Chapter 5
Druitt and Ashley began their journey across the entire universe with the most economical form of transportation ever seen. They instinctively dissolved into atomic particles and tore through the fields of space-time, their minds united in their destination, home. Even in this form of existence a scream of pure malevolent outrage could be heard reverberating on an atomic level. On the other side of the galaxy life stopped for a second and stared up into space not understanding what was happening but sensing great darkness at work. The creature had sensed the humans movement through space and jumped into its favourite host as he attempted to race by it.
It had had many hosts over the years but this man was its most frustrating and it believed he would eventually be the most rewarding. It was a constant battle to persuade him to kill the female but he would not budge, would not accommodate the slightest hint of harming her. The creature revelled in the war they fought on a daily basis, but it hated the female more. They could be unstoppable, powerful, free, but she prevented it. And now there was offspring, yet another barrier for it to overcome. The man would not break the ties to these people. What it was incapable of understanding was; he could not break them, even if he wished it.
Druitt and Ashley materialised on the ruined remains of the bridge on the old city side of the river. Ashley collapsed to the ground, out of practice with her corporeal form, Druitt didn't even attempt to catch her as she fell from his arms, distracted by the roar of laughter as the creature settled happily in his mind once again. He grimaced and snarled as the creature settled, stretching and stamping all over his thoughts, it explored every newly exposed emotion to find out what had happened since they had been parted. There was always one piece of the man it couldn't see, couldn't touch, couldn't control and could not name. It did not know it was called, his heart.
Ashley stared up at Druitt as he wrestled with the creature, she could see it back again behind his eyes. The battle reached some kind of a balance and Druitt turned to face her on the floor. With a sneering glance at her weakness his voice rumbled.
"We have Cabal to kill."
He stalked off in the direction of the Sanctuary, trying to keep his distance from her to afford her a little protection from him. Ashley struggled to her feet and stumbled after him.
Despite Henry's previous disastrous experience at penetrating a Cabal base, it hadn't taken long for him and Magnus to walk smack dab into a squad of Cabal agents. The agents had been heading for the security checkpoint on a mundane mission to capture, torture, maim or murder, after receiving a new abnormal alert. If they hadn't caught them the entire taskforce of agents, systematically searching the facility for intruders would have. With numerous automatic machine guns pointed at their heads there was no option but to surrender. Magnus and Henry stood in the centre of the vehicle bay in the main cavern of the Cabal facility surrounded by soldiers.
"We've been waiting for you," said a Lieutenant, stepping forward and speaking for the Cabal while awaiting further orders. "The perimeter guards reported your presence immediately. Even if they hadn't, the fluctuations in the electric fence would have betrayed your trespass. A trick we learned from you in fact, Doctor, from your electro-magnetic shield around the Sanctuary."
Henry could have kicked himself. Fluctuations in electric fields were his main area of expertise. The hours he had spent on that EM shield, adjustments, revisions, upgrades, everything to make it more powerful, more efficient. He hadn't been aware of it's true purpose until Druitt had reappeared in the Doc's life and Ashley's, then it had all made sense, why the Doc was fanatical about it always running.
The Lieutenant cocked his head to the side listening to orders coming in over his earpiece.
"Take the intruders to the interrogation cell," he barked the command at his men. "Blindfolded. They've already seen too much."
Six agents stepped forward and shoved the unfortunate duo with the barrels of their guns in the direction of the cell. Magnus and Henry were dragged, prodded and shoved along what seemed like miles of corridors, up stairs, down stairs, around corners until finally they stopped and were ordered to sit down in something which felt like a dentists chair. As if that thought weren't scary enough as soon as they sat down metal restraints snapped into place around their arms and legs trapping them in the chairs.
A scientist, identifiable by her long white coat entered the room with a clipboard. She hesitated briefly before pulling off their blindfolds. Blinking in the bright light it took a few seconds to focus on the Cabal scientist. They were in a white room with overly bright circa 1980's harsh neon lights overhead. When their eyes had adjusted Magnus and Henry exchanged a glance, Henry had noticed it too, this woman was familiar somehow. The scientist sat down in front of the captives, her gravely voice croaked.
"So, this is the wonderful Doctor Magnus," she peered intently at Magnus with one green eye and the other grey. "Surely we should be honoured by your gratuitous presence. We know all about you and your pet dog." She cast a contemptuous glance at Henry which earned her a dose of the famous Magnus 'look'©.
"Come on now Doctor, we have shared a tour of the facility with you, now you share with us. You must have witnessed some incredible things in your time, dragons, fairies, mermaids. Tell me, wat is the most amazing thing you've ever seen?"
Henry stifled a laugh as Magnus' cool glare forced the scientist to look away with discomfort.
"Very well, have it your way," she said, standing and straightening her lab coat. "I was just making conversation, a little piece of normality before your interrogation begins. Dr. Smith will not be so pleasant, I can assure you."
Henry looked worriedly at Magnus. She wasn't reacting, not speaking, not caring.
"As for you Mr Foss, you'll remember Dr. Smith from your last appointment with us. He'll be happy to give you a check up," she said with a nasty smirk.
The scientist left the room and slammed the door behind her.
"Who is she?" asked Magnus puzzled. "I know her from somewhere." She turned her head to look at Henry who was fidgeting wildly with a panicked look about him.
"Henry, what is it?"
"Smith," he moaned, remembering his previous encounter with the man. He was not going to be tied up when they met again. Seeing a chance at escape, Magnus didn't interfere as Henry worked himself up into what was a cross between panic and rage, panic at the memories this place was bringing back he had tried so hard to block and rage that they would dare to try anything like that to him or Magnus again. His breathing deepened and became more ragged, his panting became snarls and he could feel the blood pounding in his head. With monumental effort he tore out of his restraints and they flew across the room clinking against the far wall as Henry stood up freed from his chair. He turned to Magnus who couldn't help the proud smile on her face. He had controlled it, the beast. He hadn't turned completely but used the strength and power of the werewolf within him without it overtaking him. Henry returned the smile, as the rage left him as quickly as it had come, he was amazed at what he had done.
"I hate the dentists" he deadpanned.
"Get to the control room," Magnus insisted. "We have to get control of the systems and download their data. You can free these restraints from there."
Henry nodded and ran from the room.