Firsts

Dylan! Hello! Glad you still support me and I'm sorry to inform that Faded Smile is currently abandoned (most put on a long hold), I'm really really sorry!

Thanks to everyone for reviews and support as well.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Cold

Leo's P.O.V

I can't help but watch through eyes that don't belong to me. My body is no longer mine as it stands frozen in place about to witness the beginning of a horror movie. Marcus, who I had brought to the clutches of a monster, lies absolutely still on the steel surgical bed I had been in more than a week ago. His arms and legs are strapped, held by stirrups while his eyes remain closed.

Krane smirks as he circles around the bed with a scalpel. I can't do anything to stop what he's planning, what he's about to do. The smile deepens and the gesture wrinkles the disgusting scar on the side of his face. He approaches Marcus and lifts his shirt up exposing pale skin bulging into a small baby bump.

My heart races as he positions the sharp edge just below his navel. I grit my teeth, the only motion my manipulated body can do, as Krane presses the blade down until a small bead of blood wells and rolls down the side of his belly.

The crimson makes my own blood boil and I snap out of it. The manipulation Krane once had over me breaks in an instant and I launch myself at Krane making him tumble backwards. The knife falls from his grasp just as footsteps come near.

Sebastian and Adam are the first to arrive with Chase behind wearing one of Adam's hoodies although it fits tight over his protruding stomach. Before they can even think of helping, the handful of bionic soldiers Krane managed to create surround them.

"Stupid brat!" Krane growls frustrated.

Leo smirks as he takes a step back and lets Bree tackle the idiot while Big D and Uncle Doug appear breathless.

"Get Marcus and strap Krane to the table!" Douglas instructs.

Chase is the only available choice as Adam and Sebastian fight the other soldiers while Bree and I handle Krane. I glance from my peripheral vision as Chase waddles to the unconscious form of Marcus. He carefully unclasps the restrains after making sure the cut isn't deep, thankfully I intervened fast enough.

Big D carries Marcus and cautiously places him on a soft patch of grass away from the rubble. Krane begins to chuckle maniacally and he pulls out a laptop from a small duffle bag he carried.

"You haven't won yet," he grins.

The bionic soldiers immediately stop, their green eyes fading until there's nothing but vast emptiness. Adam tries to take a step but is stopped by the man's loud tsk.

"Take a step and your death will be worse," he warns.

Adam's eyes widen and he strides to Chase and wraps a protective arm around him. Sebastian hurries to Marcus' prone body and holds him close to his chest. Big D and Douglas have mirrored confusion etched on their brows.

"What the hell are you talking about Krane?" Douglas questions.

Bree and I stand defensively on the side in case he decides to escape again.

"Alright I suppose I'll explain," Krane begins nonchalantly, "After finding out about Chase and Audrey Sophia Davenport I couldn't help myself. I wanted them both for my own research but of course you, Dougy, thought otherwise and locked me up. Sebastian was my next plan to get the brat but as luck has it, Marcus turned out to be an abomination as well. Too bad Sebastian fought the Tritan App and broke free from my grasp.

It's all quite simple. I can't have Chase and you've ruined my chances to make Marcus abort that spawn so he could've carried my bionic children. You think it's over but I'm a step ahead of you. Every bionic who has had the tritan app is infected with a dormant virus which will slowly kill you once I activate it. And no, it doesn't matter that the app was deactivated, even the faux app on Leo is infected."

I look at his with wide eyes, if he's telling the truth and not bluffing whatsoever, then Marcus and Chase run a big danger.

"Now, how do they say it...sayonara?" He laughs before geo-leaping.

Chase's P.O.V

My heart is racing uncontrollably as I waddle to the computer Krane so generously left behind. The babies kick furiously at my distress making me wince but there has to be away to stop the virus. A warm hand on my shoulder makes me jump and I see Mr. Davenport with a worried expression. The only reassuring thing is that my babies will be fine because neither the twins or Audrey have the chip mainframe to be connected with a tritan app.

Tears well up in my eyes and the screen counting down from nine minutes twent-six seconds blurs.

"Chase you have to calm down," Adam urges as he joins us and wraps me in his arms.

"I-I can't," I hiccup.

I can feel the tensed muscles beneath his mission suit and I can see how the others pace trying to desperately come up with a way to stop this virus from killing us in less than eight minutes.

"Fuck this is all my fault," Sebastian curses as he cradles Marcus close.

"No it isn't, that man is a conniving psychopath," Bree assures as Leo nods along in a agreement.

"Wait... Did he say virus?" Mr. Davenport questions.

Sniffling I nod but I don't understand how that matters.

"Chase it's a virus! And what does a virus need?" He questions.

"A-A host," I whimper.

It's then that realization sets in Douglas' eyes, "a living host."

My eyes widen in understanding and I immediately start typing on the laptop, my fingers gliding over the keyboard as I try to counter the virus. My hormones didn't let me think properly but now I know I can stop the virus from affecting us.

"Done," I exclaim.

Before I press enter Mr. Davenport's hand grasps mine.

"You know the risk right?" He asks seriously.

"What risk?" Adam asks with a narrowing gaze.

I avoid his look and nod in complete understanding.

"I know... I-If something happens to me please, save my babies," I beg while trying to soothe the scared little beings inside of me.

"Chase," My dad whispers with suspiciously wet eyes.

He pulls me into a tight hug and presses a kiss on my forehead. The others join closely as a family. I hope they figure out the deactivation code of my counter attack in time. With a deep breath I take Adam's hand in mine and he presses his lips against mine in a breathtaking kiss. I cup his cheek and we both turn to the laptop, one minute and thirteen second in display is in the corner. Closing my eyes tightly, my finger presses on the enter key.

Immediately the world starts spinning, the edges of my vision turning dark. My chest constricts as my heart makes a last attempt to function and I gasp my last breath. My body feels heavier and I collapse, my hand tightly intertwined with Adam's warm hand suddenly turning ice cold and I feel the babies give a final nudge against my womb