A Place in the Sun

Summary: Sequel to 'How to Save A Life' and 'Topsy Turvy.' Jade and Linksano are living a happy life with their friends and family. But when SOI and Charlene are kidnapped by a shady government agency, their fathers undertake a perilous journey to get them back.

Warnings: Threats of violence against a child, some cursing.

Pairings: Linksano/OC, SOI/OC Friendship.

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I only own my .

Chapter Three: Searches and Signals

Dr. Merkle smiled at Charlene before pulling a folded sheet of paper out of his jacket pocket. "Do you know what this is?" Charlene shook her head, and he waved it at her. "It's a printout of your DNA sample. While you were unconscious, we took a few blood and tissue samples from both you and...him." He pointed to SOI. "What we discovered in your sample was quite interesting. Specifically, you have both human DNA and foreign DNA. Very foreign DNA. At first, I thought maybe the sample had been corrupted, but it hasn't been." He took a breath, staring eagerly at Charlene. "I've got me a genuine hybrid here. The potential..it's mind blowing."

"Potential for what?"

Dr. Merkle's smile didn't waver. "Many things, my dear child. Why, with your intelligence, you could take over the world."

"OF COURSE!" Charlene shouted, causing SOI to roll over in the air, laughing. Dr. Merkle looked confused. Charlene giggled. "Sorry, habit I picked up from one of my Uncles. Why would I want to take over the world? I wouldn't have time to have any fun."

"You could become the richest kid in the world!"

Charlene scoffed. "I get an allowance already. Daddy gives me five dollars for cleaning up after his experiments, so long as he hasn't used any dangerous items, and I get two dollars for keeping my room clean. I'm only four, how much money do you think I need?"

Dr. Merkle ran his hands through his hair. "Don't you want anything?"

Charlene grinned, showing her teeth. "Yes. I want my Daddy and SOI's Daddy to find you."

Dr. Merkle glared at her. "That is one thing that will not happen." Charlene smirked at him.

"Yes it will."

Dr. Merkle's face turned red, and he took a step towards her. "You little..." He checked himself, shaking his head. "No, sorry. You're not going to spook me. In fact, why don't I show you what's in store for you here?" He pulled out a phone. "Reed, Garvey, come to the Gathering Area, and tell Frank to set up the Room for Sophia."

Sophia began to cry, and Charlene put an arm around her. "What's wrong?"

Sophia only cried harder. Charlene hugged her, glaring at Merkle. "What's going on?"

"You'll find out."

Two burly men came into the Gathering Area. They took Sophia and Charlene, leading them down a dimly lit hall. Dr. Merkle followed behind. Charlene was scared, but she kept a mental note of the path they took. Sophia was wailing, and Charlene wished she could offer her comfort.

They stopped in front of a metal door with a large window on the right side. Through the window was a large, featureless room with white walls and a single chair in the middle. Dr. Merkle pressed on the door, and a keypad slid out. He punched in a code, and the door hissed open.

The man holding Sophia tossed her in, and Merkle keyed the door shut. "Now, just watch. There's a computer in there that detects which child is inside and acts accordingly."

A small hole opened in the back wall, sending a baseball flying towards Sophia. She gasped, hand going up in an automatic gesture, and the ball swerved, missing her by a few scant inches. A second ball followed, then another, and another, until they were hurtling out of the hole faster than Charlene could follow.

Sophia was managing to deflect or dodge some, but others were smacking into her. As Charlene watched in horror and anger, more holes of different sizes appeared, sending bigger and bigger objects towards Sophia.

"STOP IT!" Charlene tried to break free of her captor, but he twisted her arm behind her back, causing her to howl in pain. "YOU'RE HURTING HER!"

Sophia was curled into a fetal position, body shaking. Dr. Merkle grinned. "Not too bad. She lasted for ten minutes longer than last time. End Experiment, and get Subject cleaned up." He turned to Charlene. "What do you think?"

"I think that when I'm rescued, my Daddy is going to kill you."

Dr. Merkle snorted. "Reed, take this brat back to the Gathering Area. I think we'll begin experiments on her tomorrow."

When Charlene got back, SOI floated over to her. "Riki?" Charlene shook her head, and SOI's tendrils drooped. Charlene patted him.

"Yeah. I wish there was a way to..." her eyes shot open as a brilliant idea hit her. "Richard!"

"What?"

"Can you draw me a computer?"

Jade opened her eyes, smiling at the sight of Harvey sleeping in the chair. "Been here all night?"

"Huh! Oh, jeez, I'm sorry Red. I only meant to close my eyes for a sec."

Jade got out of bed. "Harvey, I'm fine. Whatever was in that dart has left my system. Right now, all I'm focused on is getting Charlene back." She got dressed, looking at him in the closet mirror. "You're probably wondering why I'm not moaning and wailing, right?" Harvey's uncomfortable look said it all. "Believe me, I want to. I want to scream and cry and hit things. But that won't help find Charlene any quicker. What will is the combined talents of my husband, Insano, and this crazy extended family of ours. Am I worried about Charlene and SOI? Of course. But Charlene's Gift may come in handy." She shut the door and started to head downstairs, Harvey following.

"What's her Gift?"

Jade started a pot of tea. "Hyper Intelligence, with the added bonus of Total Recall. She only has to read or see something once, and she can remember it."

"Pretty heavy stuff for a kid."

Jade shook her head. "Not really. She's half human, after all, so her Gift won't accelerate as fast. It'll adjust to accommodate her. Of course, her father is no slouch in the brains department either."

"True. Where is he, anyway? I woulda noticed if he had come home."

"He and Insano are on Comicron One. The others have been sending them any info they've been able to find."

Insano growled as he deleted the latest false alarm. "Twenty six! Twenty six messages, and we're no closer!"

Linksano sighed. "They're trying their best."

"I know, but it's been almost three days, and nothing."

"I'm just as scared and worried as you are. It's my daughter out there too, you know."

"I know." Insano turned back to the computer. "Nimue, any new messages?"

'THIS UNIT HAS LOCATED SEVEN NEW MESSAGES.'

"Any messages that might be of use?"

'THIS UNIT IS DETECTING AN EIGHTH MESSAGE. IT IS VERY FAINT.'

Linksano sighed. "Probably from Film Brain. Play the message, Nimue."

'RELAYING MESSAGE.'

"Beep. Beep. Beeeep. Beep Beep Beep."

Insano cocked his head, confused. "Is that all?"

'MESSAGE REPEATS EVERY TEN SECONDS.'

Insano threw up his hands. "Fuck, that's even less than useful! It's just a bunch of beeps!"

Linksano wasn't sure. "Nimue, play message back, slower."

'PLAYING BACK MESSAGE.'

Linksano listened, his eyes widening. "Insano...that's not random beeps."

"Then what in Tesla's name is it?"

Linksano grinned. "Morse Code."