Improper Artifact Use for Fun and Entertainment ch 9

By: InuGhost2.0

10/12/10

A/N: Sorry about the delay in getting this chapter up. What with dealing with midterm tests and paper writing I didn't have a lot of time to write. So thanks to those who've been patient and still want to read this and review.

Disclaimer: I still own nothing that appears in this. I did come close to getting hold of the rights, but it turns out Voodoo Dolls only work half the time. Something about free will screws up their abilities.

'Please let this work' Claudia desperately thought as she spotted a Neutralizer dispenser. Her chest burned as she struggled to continue running regardless of her fatigue. Pushing herself harder Claudia cried out in glee as she grabbed hold of the hose and spun around. "Eat Neutralizer Myka!" She cried out unleashing a torrent of the purple goo at the crazed agent.

Unable to react in time Myka was hit full blast by the tidal wave of Neutralizer. The force of the blast bore her to the ground and sent Excalibur flying back down one of the warehouse's endless aisles. Try as she might Myka could not regain her footing thanks to the inherent slipperiness of the Neutralizer. Crying out in frustration the Agent started to crawl her way towards the teenager. A look of determination and blind rage encompassing her normally passive face made all the creepier by her reddish-orange eyes.

"Oh crap!" Claudia recognized those eyes all too well. Hours spent playing the 'Resident Evil' series had familiarized her with those eyes. Admittedly she had been shocked to discover the man's belt actually existed and gifted the wearer with almost superhuman: speed, agility, strength, and endurance though at the cost of their humanity. How it had ended up in Myka's procession, much less why the agent would be ignorant/desperate enough to use it, was a question best answered later.

Having bought herself some time Claudia mentally ran through a list of various artifacts that were capable of healing a person. The gash in her side was still bleeding profusely and even standing still Claudia was beginning to feel lightheaded. 'Come on Claudia think…there's one artifact that can solve this problem…now what was it!'

Flashback

"Geeze Artie ever think of hiring a maid to dust around here? Some of this stuff looks like it hasn't been cleaned or maintained since the French Revolution." Running her finger along one of the warehouse shelves Claudia was unsurprised when it came back completely black.

"Claudia it is not that dirty in here." Artie protested as he set a heavy box down onto the floor of the warehouse.

"Artie she's got a point. I'm not even allergic to dust, and yet it still feels like I'm going to suffocate here at times from the amount of it flying around. So it's not like this place couldn't stand a good cleaning every once in a while. Besides what's the worst that could happen?"

Spinning round Artie gave the Secret Service agent a glare. "The last time someone tried to clean all the artifacts it led to the Great Chicago fire. Before that London burned to the ground, and before that well…let's just say Nero was unfairly blamed for that ragging inferno." Pushing his glasses back up Artie picked his box back up, signaling the conversation was over, and continued down the aisle searching for an open space to place it on.

"Myka you might be a little careful talking about dirt around Artie. Unless you want to add to our workload." Claudia cautioned the older agent. As she looked at artifacts gathered from around the time of the Roman Empire her eyes fell on a strange looking lyre. "Ancient guitar cool." Looking over Claudia read the artifacts description aloud.

"Apollo's Lyre. Capable of healing all those who hear its soothing melody."

End of Flashback

"That's it! I might have spared your life earlier Claudia, but now I'm through playing around. You, Pete, Artie, and even Mrs. Frederic are going to die! You will all pay for the humiliation, pain and suffering I have been forced to endure while doing this lousy job!" Rational thought had fled Myka by this point and the only emotion she now felt was uncontrollable rage.

Myka was near the edge of the Neutralizer spill. Grabbing the hose Claudia blasted the agent once more sending her sliding back several feet. 'That won't delay her long enough for me to reach the Lyre in my present condition. I need something to give me a boost of energy.' Scanning the shelves in near desperation her eyes landed on a plain white lab coat.

Initially hesitant about using it, the incident with Volta's lab coat still horrifyingly fresh in her mind, Claudia knew she had no choice. Checking the monitor she was somewhat displeased that parts of it were obscured thanks to splash back from the Neutralizer hose.

'…Sciuto's lab coat. …extra energy…trouble sleeping…use with caution.'

"Good enough for me." Yanking the coat off the shelf Claudia pulled it on.

Instantly she felt new energy surge through her body. She had never felt this wired before in her life. A double shot of espresso would only give her a fraction of the energy she felt at the moment. A cheerful giggle escaped her as she began literally bouncing up and down where she stood. ".!"

(Translation: Wow this is so cool. I feel like I can do anything right now. I wonder if Artie will let me keep this when he gets back! ) (A/N: To make things easier Claudia's speech will now be automatically translated for reader enjoyment)

"Crud I'm still bleeding. I'd better get to that Lyre."

Racing off at a speed that would put the Road Runner to shame, Claudia quickly located Apollo's Lyre and was back near Myka before the enraged agent could make it five feet.

Still twitching from the excessive energy running through her body Claudia took a deep breath in an effort to calm down. When that utterly failed she resolved to solve the problem of her injury first, along with Myka's state of mind, then deal with her energy problem. As her fingers ran gently over the lyre's strings a soothing melody began filling the immediate area.

Five Minutes Later

"Ow my head. What on Earth happened?" Myka groaned as she sat up and clutched at her head. The warehouse agent was in mild pain from the headache she felt building behind her eyes.

"You went psychotic for a while there Myka. You were wanting to kill me and Pete for some reason, but you should be fine now." Claudia commented from her splayed position on the ground. The redhead had collapsed the minute she had taken the lab coat off. Her body felt as though she had just gotten done running a marathon and wanted nothing more than to pass out at the moment and rest.

"Psychotic. I don't remember that. Ugh…I'll take your word for it though. I can't recall the last couple hours." Shakily getting to her feet Myka carefully made her way over to the tech genius and helped her to her feet. "What do you say we head back to the Bed and Breakfast and call it a night?"

"Sounds fine to me. I'm ready for a break. I can continue scavenging this place tomorrow." Claudia replied as she threw an arm over the other woman's shoulder.

As the two began their long journey back to Artie's office a loud beastly roar reverberated throughout the warehouse. Artifacts of various sizes and weights violently vibrated on their shelves, and more than a few went crashing to the ground. The two women looked at each other in fear wondering what the source was for the monstrous scream. The answer came to both of them at the same time and with fear in their voices they spoke aloud "Pete."

Three minutes ago with Pete

Pete was not certain what it was about the artifact that entranced him. Maybe it was the faint glow its petals emitted. Perhaps it was how vibrant and alive it looked even underneath its glass case. The way it slowly turned while suspended in midair with nothing holding it up. Or maybe it was the large neon sign beside it that read 'Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's rose. Do Not Touch Under Any Circumstances. This especially goes for Claudia and Pete!'

Regardless of whatever it was that fascinated him so about the rose Pete felt the strong desire to hold it in his hands. Slightly shaking from excitement Pete carefully removes the glass case and set it gently down on the floor. With baited breath he slowly stretched out his right hand towards the red rose and touched it.

In that moment a large red flash enveloped the area. Pete would have screamed if he were still capable at this point, but alas he could not. A feeling of power raced through his body and he felt his muscles expand with new found strength. Accompanying this strength he gained several inches in height even as hair erupted across his entire body making him look like a hairy beast.

As his nails turned into claws and his teeth to fangs Pete Lattimer completed his transformation into a Beast. Growling low he sniffed the air detecting the scent of two intruders into his domain. Intruders that he felt the need to deal with. Rearing his head back he gave a beastly roar as he set off in the direction of the intruders.

A/N: Well that's one problem taken care of. Now we'll get to see how the two ladies deal with this new Pete. (Chuckles) Anyway feel free to give ideas/suggestions about artifacts the agents could find during their journey through the warehouse along with how Claudia and Myka might deal with Pete. So please review and remember reviews make authors happy, and happy authors are productive authors.