-Chapter 14-

Alarms were sounding off as smoke began to fill the corridors. Sharon wasn't sure what was going on but she knew it originated in the Hybrids chamber as she began to make her way to the room she sees centurions working to put the fire out.

"I need two of you to come with me…" as she was kicking the door "…we have to protect the Hybrid!" the centurions complied two of them diverted themselves to help the Sharon. As Sharon pointed at the door one of them kicked the door down letting out a bloom of smoke into the hallway. Watching them enter Sharon had to follow to ensure the safety of the Hybrid. Squinting her eyes the smoke began to sting them but she kept pushing through when all of the sudden she stumbles on a body. Dropping to the ground she finds a Leoban who appeared to be beaten pretty bad rolling him onto his side she realizes that he was still alive "What happened?"

Leoban still disoriented grabs his head "I don't know…" as he looks around he sees the fire consuming everything in the room "…My books!"

Sharon not really caring about the items there begins to drag Leoban "I need some help!" Leoban was resisting the help trying to get to the items that were on fire. Hearing her call another centurion enters the room and works his way to the calling of her voice "Get him!" she yells as she sets him down she runs deeper into the room trying to get to the Hybrid still.

Crawling her way to were the Hybrid should be she reaches into the tub looking for her but not able to find her. The smoke at this point was so intense that she could barely see as she continued to reach for her she felt the steel arms grab her and pull her out. Shaking her head her sight slowly began to return to her she realizes the discomfort in her belly was because she was being carried out by another centurion. "Put me down!" is all she can muster with her smoked filled lungs trying to work out the smoke.

The centurion sets her down next to the Leoban as he rest against the wall putting his hand onto his head "Where you able to save any of the books?"

Getting upset at the preposterous question she turns to him "The books… what about the Hybrid you selfish bastard!"

"The Hybrid will be fine she will resurrect into a new body the books however won't."

Sharon continued to shake her head "I don't think anything is salvageable, the fire was pretty bad" resting her head on the back wall as well.

All they hear is yelling in the background as they both look up they see John pushing through the crowd "Out of my way!" as he gets close he spots Leoban on the ground "What happened?"

Shaking his head "I don't know… I was working on the project when all of the sudden I felt something hit my head… next thing I know I'm in the smoke filled room being saved by this Sharon."

"Everything was lost I would assume?"

"I don't know yet but Sharon said that the fire was pretty bad" trying to get up.

"Well then see what you can salvage and report back to me" with a grave look on his face "I need to go talk to someone." Turning around he heads off back through the crowd Leoban just watched worried what he might do.

Sitting in his chair Purevenom simply pondered on his next move John seemed to be getting more and more unpredictable, but hopefully he would have some good news soon. As if he himself had predicted it his intercom goes off but just before he has a chance to activate it D'Anna walks in stopping his actions he turns his attention towards her "Yes D'Anna?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you Excellency, but John is here and he wishes to have a word with you."

Sitting there for a second he wonders how he knew already the only thing that would make sense is that Kona had finally failed him "Yes… of course but first I'm going to take this call. I will let you know when I am finished." Bowing she exits the room leaving him alone with his intercom still sounding. Returning his attention to the switch he activates the signal "Yes."

"Purevenom, my apologies for disturbing you" Kona seemed to be anxious but nothing more gave him a clue what the news might be.

"My dear Kona what news do you bring me?" trying to sound not concerned he waited anxiously for her response.

"The mission was a success… I got the item and left no witnesses to link it to you."

A great relief washed over him but then why was John here "John's here… do you know what that could be about?"

Kona hesitated for a second "There is no way he could have found out already the mission just completed a little while ago…"

"Interesting, thank you bring the item to our disclosed location as soon as I'm finished here I will make my way there expect me in a few hours."

"By your command"

The message came to a halt and Purevenom sat back. Curious on what to expect he finally contacted D'Anna to let John into the room, as he watches the little man barge in he could tell that he was upset. "Tell me John what can I do for you?"

John stops a few feet in front of Purevenom and stands there for a second gathering his thoughts, finally clasping his hand behind his back "I know it was you…"

Thinking to himself he was glad that he was not in the Sanctuary he wasn't sure if he had his facial expressions down yet, and this was going to take a lot of deception if he was here for the reason he thought. "John, you are treading in some deep water."

"Oh, you have done a good job covering your tracks but I know somehow you were involved."

"John I had nothing to do with whatever you seem to be accusing me of, why don't we talk about it… first tell me what happened?"

"I have been working on it for some time I have no doubt that you knew about it, but why did you have to go this route it's not like I would have thought it was anyone else."

Feeling that John might have been right who else would have conceived to take the item of course John would automatically find blame in him. Realizing he was caught in the act he decided to concede "I didn't know what it was…"

John finally fed up with the deception "It was a prophecy… possibly helping the Legion in its plan to annihilate the human race…" of course John left out the part about the removal of the Imperious Leader but then he wasn't really ready to disclose all of his secrets in the heat of the moment.

"…I know John…" stumbling for a second he thought for a second "wait did you say a prophecy?"

"Yes, just some random babbling from the Hybrid" John just wanted to end this now but he felt that he had his Imperiousness on the guard for once, and it felt good.

Purevenom sat back realizing John had no idea what had transpired, that he was here for a totally different reason. "A prophecy… what are you talking about?"

"Somebody broke into my ship killed my Hybrid and destroyed the research I had Leoban working on in there" John not really sure what he was getting at. "But why am I telling you this since you are the one who sanctioned it?"

"I had nothing to do with that John I can honestly say I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Really I don't believe you, this isn't over!" like a pouting child he raises his hand and storm out of the room.

Watching him leave his smile had returned even deeper "John, John, John if you only knew…" getting up he returned to his window looking at the stars he realized that as a machine he was smart but as a humanoid he was unstoppable. Beginning to laugh he was over flowed with excitement this was a new day for the empire and he would enjoy watching as the little man squirmed.