Setting: ATF Universe
Page 8
Vin squinted and sat up, stretching painfully and eyeing the strange room. It was about fifteen feet square, no windows and had a concrete floor. A door with no knobs or handles, only operational from the other end, was across from him. His groggy mind cleared and he recalled somewhere during the night, being handed a bag of food from Hardy's. He and J.D. wolfed down the burgers and... J.D.?
"...Kid?" he croaked, shaking the drug-induced stupor off. He blinked up at the high ceiling and the lone lightbulb far overhead. How many hours had passed? Was it day or night? His vision was a little blurry and he rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath. He heard a moan and crawled over a few feet to where another body was. His fingers found a thatch of hair... dark hair... and he felt the warm neck and solid pulse. He tapped the bruised face and winced at the labored breathing. He gently rolled J.D. over and lifted the filthy blue shirt, wincing again as the purple and blue bruises stood out. "... fuckin' bastard... I'm gonna kill 'im..."
"Get in line." J.D. hissed, opening his eyes and shoving Vin's pawing fingers away. "Where are we?"
"Hell if I know..." Vin sighed, helping J.D. sit up. "How ya doin', Kid?"
"...be doin' a lot better if I was home..." he paused and gave his friend a small smile. "I'm still breathing, Vin."
"Yeah..." Vin agreed, then eyed the room again. "Chris!" He lurched to his feet and staggered, dropping by the still figure's side. The dark pants and dress shirt were filthy and the normally immaculately groomed man was tattered, his hair was dirty and his face bruised. Vin knelt down and felt for a pulse. Chris was a little pale and his breathing was funny, but he was in one piece. A quick check revealed no bones broken. He saw J.D. drop down on the other side of their leader, breathing heavily.
"J.D... .don't be movin' around s'much... ya push one o'them ribs into a lung and ye'll be sorry..." Vin warned and saw the dark head nod. "Chris... Chris..." Vin repeated, louder and tapped the face below him. The eyes twitched and shot open, glaring angrily and a sharp breath stole between clenched teeth. Vin stiffened when a hand shot up and gripped the back of his neck painfully. "Whoa! I'm one o'the good guys..."
Chris woke up and saw the faces he'd been so worried about. They were real and beside him... still alive. He heard the soft drawl and clutched the tense neck, needing to feel the skin and reassure himself. Without losing that deathgrip, he turned and grabbed J.D.'s arm, nodding slowly to the worried youth. He turned his gaze back to his best friend.
"Damn."
"That about covers it," Vin agreed with the tired blond and helped him sit up. "Yer still in one piece... nothin' important was hurt."
"You got any idea where we are?" J.D. asked.
"East Coast..." Chris paused, recalling a vague glimpse of the landscape when the bitch let him out to urinate and eat several hours before. "You okay?"
"Never better." Vin said disgustedly, "That bastard cracked a couple o'the Kid's ribs..."
"J.D.?" Chris stared hard at the bruised face.
"I'm okay, Chris..." he flicked an eye to Vin who shook his head. Too late, Chris saw the worried youth's face. J.D. could be read like a book.
"What happened?" He asked, studying each of them.
"Ya best be keepin' yer distance from me... m'face is plastered from coast to coast..." Vin spat.
"They used Vin last night... set him up... at a gas station in Tennessee..."
"Tennessee?" Chris frowned, "...and..."
"That bastard was holdin' J.D... gave me fifteen minutes t'drive into town... get gas..." Vin paused. "He was timin' me... I was late gettin' back... he was beatin' on J.D... was ready t'break his wrist..."
"He showed us the news this morning." J.D. recalled. "They think Vin's in on it... between how we got taken in Denver, they got video's of Vin in the garage the night they left and at the gas station..."
"How'd you end up here, Vin?" Chris wondered.
"The F.B.I. grilled me fer five hours... I was pissed off... m'nerves were fried." Vin sighed, "I'll tell ya what... Ezra stood ten feel tall." he paused thinking of the southerner's support. "We was leavin' the hospital and we run into Josiah and Buck. Buck wouldda liked t'separate m'head from the rest o'me..."
"Buck wouldn't do that!" J.D. defended his friend.
"Buck's head so far up his ass, Kid, he don't know what he's doin'" Vin spat tersely. "He wasn't workin' on all cylinders after ya disappeared. By the time Chris got took... he lost all reasonin'."
"He'll come around." Chris consoled both of them. "He's feeling guilty... she's after him. That's a lot of pressure to wear."
"Yeah, well... " Vin continued. "I kept thinkin' on it... couldn't sleep... so I decided t'go back... kept hearin' a voice... 'start at the beginning'..."
"At the airport?" J.D. guessed.
"No, at the File Room." Vin countered, "That's when this started. I seen somethin' that day... 'member I called Buck?" He slumped, "Nothin' comes back... what the fuck did that bitch do t'me?"
"...and..." Chris pressed, wanting to get Vin beyond this area.
"I was gonna go upstairs and I seen taillights shinin'... it was midnight... so I went t'get a closer look. It was a Hazmat van... loaded with crates... I thought I seen somethin' in the back... crawled in t'get a look... it was yer beeper. The door slammed shut and locked..."
Chris sighed and eyed the concrete room, just as the door opened. All three prisoners stood as the pair walked in. A pizza box slid across the floor towards them and three plastic cups of soda were placed on the floor, along with napkins.
"Eat up..." she ordered, "You have ten minutes."
Before they could inquire any further, she left, the door slamming behind her.
"What's the plan?" Kennedy yawned, seeking a soft bed.
"After they eat, you take them to the shower room. There's clothes there, too. Then you bring them back and lock them up. You have until five p.m. to rest. Then you get Larabee and bring him to me. While I'm working on him, you bring Dunne into the arena and get the camera started. I want that film Fedex'd to Buck tonight."
"You sure about this?" Kennedy asked, "Larabee's tough... he could hurt that kid bad..."
"It won't get that far... but Wilmington won't know that... let him suffer. He'll wonder if his oldest friend killed his best friend. That kid will be screaming for him... it'll be worse than bullets..."
"What time will you be back?"
"I'm bringing Amahl and his group here at eight p.m. You have Tanner ready, just as I explained. The lab is all set up..."
"Okay," Tony answered, "...but you're on your own in there. I'm not gettin' near that fuckin' thing. " He noted of her cargo.
"You won't be needed." She purred, "You make sure Tanner's friends have a front row seat behind the glass." she thought on the partioned room she'd designed. "All in all, it should be quite an evening."
Chris, Vin and J.D. looked up when the door opened and the large male appeared, waving a dart gun.
"Move!" he ordered, grabbing Vin with his free hand and shoving him.
"Fuck off!" Vin barked, shoving the burly brute back. J.D. joined in and pummeled the guard. Chris moved too, but froze when she appeared and shot Vin with a dart.
"You've been warned. He's expendable," she lied, "I can hurt him... do things to his mind... this is a tranquilizer, the next one won't be..." she waved to the J.D. who was kneeling by Vin. "Pick him up and get going."
Chris and J.D. carried their friend through a dark hallway and into a large room. Several shower heads were on the wall and they eased Vin down.
"You two get those filthy clothes off..." she said, "Get cleaned up, fresh clothes are in that area behind the half-wall," she waved the gun to the right. "Tony... take care of him..." she motioned to the limp body on the floor. Chris and J.D. didn't budge, standing protectively in front on Vin.
"You fuckin' touch him and I'll rip your balls off..." Chris warned, eyes flashing at the wolfish look on the large guards face.
"Really, Mister Larabee..." her voice was bored. "Must you make things difficult? I have a schedule to keep and I warned you." she pulled out a slim black case and flipped it open. A cylinder of liquid was inside. "Pity... I've seen what this does... he'll scream..." she loaded the drug into the gun and pointed it at Vin's helpless body.
"We'll take care of him..." J.D. said, kneeling and unbuttoning Vin's shirt. Their shoes were missing when they woke up and the tattered remnants of their clothing came off easily.
She eased back, keeping the gun trained on the trio as they bathed. The hands of the clock gave her a satisifed smile, as the the plan moved forward. By the time they were finished and safely secured in their cell, she was floating in a sea of giddiness.
Amahl Kyaham eased his body from the hot tub in the hotel. It wasn't much of a hotel, but then again, he wasn't here on vacation. He didn't like America, the 'great Satan' his countrymen called the United States. He thought of the village he'd grown up in as he walked back to his room. Piruz was a small village, north of Qazvin and right on the Caspian Sea. His father was a fisherman and the small house had been full of love. But Amahl was not content to be a poor fisherman and he joined the army, rising through the ranks until he became a part of the Shah's inner circle. Now at fifty, he had wealth beyond his dreams, a beautiful wife and three fine children. But as he finished dressing, he paused and thought of his father. A man who had a tiny house and no more than a few coins to his name, but a man who slept peacefully at night and died happy. A rap on the door and the voice of Rahim, one of his two bodyguards, drew him back from happier memories at his father's knee, outside the tiny house, staring up at the stars.
"Yes?"
"Do you need anything?" the guard inquired.
"No... wake me at six p.m. We'll leave for the Blue Grotto at six-thirty," he noted of the dinner with the American woman at a nearby seafood restaurant. His contacts in Berlin confirmed her shady business dealings. It was rumored that a similar sale to an Oriental chemical company had been the reason she left the highly coveted position in Europe. The price was high, but then to possess the deadly toxins would reap enumerable benefits. It would also cement his new staff position within the government.
Chris was sitting on the floor, his head resting on his drawn up knees. The loose fitting black cotton pants and from fitting tee shirt were already slightly damp. J.D. wore simliar clothes, but in a olive green. Vin was in gray cotton pants and a white shirt. All three wore canvas sneakers that matched their clothing. A low moan drew his head up and he pushed himself off the floor. He approached the cot and saw J.D. sit up on his own cot.
"Vin?" Chris shook the sharpshooter's shoulder. Two confused eyes blinked up at him and then closed again.
"...thought I was dreamin'... " Vin sighed, trying to move the oatmeal from the inside of his head. He felt Larabee's hands grip him and move him upright. He rested against the wall behind him and kept his eyes closed. A cold bottle nudged his hand and he peeled an eye open. He eyed the clothing on J.D. and Chris and his hands felt the fabric on his own pants.
"Where's the party?" he croaked, untwisting the cap on the bottle of water. He drank greedily, wiping the excess as it ran off his chin.
"Nearby." Chris replied, mentally trying to discern how many hours passed. "... soon I think. You okay?"
"Yeah..." he rubbed the sore spot on his arm where the dart hit him. "I'm gettin' tired o'this shit..."
The door opened and Delaney entered. She paused as Kennedy moved past her, keeping the dart gun trained on Vin's chest.
"Well, you look much better. I guess you've been wondering who I am?"
"You're the whore that Buck's been fuckin'..." Chris said flatly, watching her color rise.
"You'll pay for that remark..." she hissed, "Buck Wilmington will pay dearly for his disgraceful transgressions to both Tony and myself. The countdown begins tonight."
Vin cocked his head and furrowed his brow at the name Tony. Another name materialized... Kennedy. Kennedy? Why did he know that name? He stared hard at the man and a pain lanced through his head, so severe it caused him to clutch both sides. He felt Chris's hand on his back and sat up, blinking hard.
"Ah... a side effect I forgot to warn you about. You are my most prized specimin, Mr. Tanner... even if you don't rememer our painful past sessions."
"Yer... yer... the lady at the train station... ya fucked me up good and I ain't fergot that... " Vin rasped.
"Enough small talk, Mr. Larabee if you would be so kind.." she saw the green eyes narrow and clucked her tongue. "That painful toxin is still loaded in the dart gun." she threatened and Chris felt Vin back up slightly. "Not to fear, you'll see your friends in a few minutes. Turn around please, hands..." she cuffed him and shoved him forward. "Tony, know what to do..."
They moved through a dark corridor and into a room set up like a boxing arena. The ring was on the floor, divided by what Chris recognized as electical poles. He heard the hum of a motor and felt himself shoved down onto a chair. The cuffs were locked into a ring on the wall behind him. She also plied his legs apart and secured the ankles to the chair.
"You're a very attractive man, pity you have principles..." she purred from behind him, licking the sweat from the side of his neck.
"Don't flatter yourself," Chris said calmly, trying to ignore the firm breast rubbing against him and the nipping teeth on his flesh. "I've had better in the shower by myself..."
She laughed and stood up, massaging the back of his neck. "I do love your dry sense of humor..." She paused and drew the syringe from the black box on the shelf behind her.
The sting was sharp and sudden and Chris hissed in shock. His eyes widened as the burning sensation spread through him, causing every limb to tingle. He blinked as she moved in front of him, leering at him, her face becoming distorted.
"A little something your country hasn't approved yet... a very effective hallucinogenic."
Chris jerked in the chair forcing his body back and began to gasp and pant. The room exploded in a sensation of vibrant color and sound. Brilliant shades of blue and purple melted in front him, small bursts of hot pink and orange teased his eyes. Butterflies appeared, so beautiful in a rainbow of color that he wanted to touch them.
Jamie saw the wide-eyed wonder and felt his tension building. She went behind the chair and uncuffed his hands. Immediately he started grabbing the air, grunting and gasping as the drug intensified. Eyeing the clock on the wall, which read ten minutes to five, she smiled and hitched up the short skirt. She unbuttoned her blouse and straddled the taut frame. She placed her hands on both sides of his face and pushed his head back.
"Hello Chris... you like me don't you?"
Chris blinked as the woman appeared in the kalidiscopic sea he was floating in. She was beautiful with turquoise eyes and deep coral skin. His eyes widened at the spectacular bright pink breasts that were dangling in front of him like ripe fruit. A fire exploded inside him and he growled, grabbing the fruit and tasting them. Sweet... like peaches and pineapples... he groaned and felt his head drawn away. He saw her changing colors again the lips teased him like ripe strawberries. He grabbed her face and kissed her hand, needing to sate the beast inside.
Jamie groaned as the animal she knew existed inside Chris Larabee took control. She felt him hardening and ground her hips against him. The growl brought a smile to her as his tongue scorched the inside of her mouth. She slid a hand down and released his pent up passion. He growled again, his eyes fevered and his breath hot and hard. He clutched her hips and rammed her hard, giving her the painful pleasure she'd sought. Just as quickly, it was ending. The first euphoric moments that the drug created would turn bitter and release the beast. He slumped, sated and spent, his head lolling. She pulled herself free and cleaned herself up. Then she put his passion back in his pants and zipped the fly. She drew his head up and kissed the slack lips, patting his face in consolation.
"What a waste... God you're an animal..."
She left him and moved across the room, testing the currency of the barriers. It was a large area, each side more than ten feet. The poles housed enough current to sent a painful shock to anyone who hit the slim metal wiring that connected them. She activated the camera and checked the video recorder. The door opened and Dunne and Tanner appeared, followed by Kennedy.
"Chris!"
She smiled evilly at twin cries of concern. Both were cuffed soundly and on their knees. Tanner tried twice to rise, only to be hit in the chest with the large rubber bat Kennedy carried. The last shot sent him sideways onto the floor. Dunne moved in, putting his body between Tanner and Kennedy. She smiled at the cub, his hazel eyes full of fire.
"Excellent..." she whispered, watching Larabee rouse. She crossed over and bent behind him, whispering in his ear. "Chris?"
"...mmmm..." Chris groaned and winced as the fire started again. It was worse this time, it hurt his chest and legs. He'd never felt pain like this and the scenery changed. He stared in muted horror at the beast across the room. It was hideous, six feet tall... hairy like wolf, yellow eyes and dripping fangs.
"Do you see him? Vin Tanner... Oh dear, I hope you're not too late..."
Vin? He knew that name... his body exploded in a flash of blinding rage. Vin... Vin... He grabbed his head as the pain intensified, nearly splitting his skull. He screamed, raising his head and letting the bellow bounce off every wall.
J.D. knelt up at Chris's horrid call. He flinched when he saw the blond, who resembled a wildman. The eyes were glazed and unseeing, the body taut with rage.
"Kid..." Vin whispered, still trying to find the air that had been taken from his lungs. He remained on the floor, curled up and viewing Chris from a distorted angle. "Chris!" he hollered, trying to rise, only to have a boot shove his head down. From where his face was pressed to the floor, he saw J.D. shoved into the makeshift ring onto a large blue mat.
Chris heard his name called and saw the wolf leave a huddled mass on the floor. The voice made his head scream in agony. He clutched it and bent in half, trying to push it away. His blood boiled, sending an agonizing wave through his body.
She moved up and bent over his distorted frame. Her words were issued softly, but struck him like bullets. "Vin's dead... you failed him... you must kill the beast... kill the beast..."
Chris's head cocked and he began to pant. He swiped the spit running from his mouth and saw the wolf pacing.
She watched the action and pushed a button, turning the video equipment on. The microphone was connected to a machine that would distort her voice. She was out of range of the camera and Kennedy was in diguise, dressed in a cloak as a medevil executor. His hooded face completed the look.
"Showtime Buck... Welcome to your nightmare ... Tonight's feature is made just for you. The ancient Aztecs had a delightful little ritual that was called deathmatch. The victor was declared when he separated the loser's head from the body... while the unfortunate opponent was still conscious. Of course, Mr. Larabee has a slight advantage... a lovely little narcotic I introduced him to. But enough prattle... on with the show." She ended the audio portion as Chris growled and leaped at J.D. She flipped on the electonic barrier, sealing them inside. Tanner squirmed unsuccesfully beneath Kennedy's boot and she watched the free leg kick his groin hard, stilling him for the near future.
"Kill the beast... kill the beast," Chris screamed, jumping on the large monster. "Kill the beast!"
Chris slammed into the wolf, shoving his furry head hard onto the mat. The beast's large yellow eyes matched the putrid fangs, which were dripping with blood. Vin's blood... his mind called out... he grabbed the head and slammed it again, then wrapped his hands around the monster's throat.
"J.D... hit him... fight back... he'll kill ya... ya gotta fight back... J.D..." Vin's coaching was cut short by a boot pressed into his throat.
J.D. heard Vin and realized what he had to do. He'd defend himself as best he could and try not to hurt Chris. He wouldn't give her the satisifaction. He felt Chris's hands close on his throat and snaked his own hand up, striking Chris hard above the collarbone and taking his breath away. As he rolled off, J.D. pulled Chris's legs from under him and he fell to the mat. The younger man sprung over, trapping Chris beneath him.
"Shit!" He hissed, feeling the powerful strength coursing through the lean body under him. Whatever she'd given Chris had given him superhuman strength. Chris's elbow shot back, clipping his cheek and splitting his lip. He grunted and held on, but the stronger man won out.
Chris flung his tortured backwards, sending the wolf into the barrier. He heard the animal cry out in pain as the current hit his body. He tossed back his blond head and cried out in triumph, then felt the animal hit his legs.
They traded blows; fists and feet found flesh and bone. Bruises appeared, blood splattered the ring and both were exhausted from the powerful current that riddled them when they hit the barrier. Chris kicked his feet hard, cracking J.D.'s ribs and sending his body to the tarp.
He didn't get up and she smiled, nodding to Kennedy.
He eyed Tanner's squirming body under his full weight and moved his feet, reaching the machete at the edge of the ring. Larabee was pacing the ring, hands above his head, growling , his glazed eyes shining in triumph. He saw the machete land and picked it up.
"Kill the beast... kill the beast..." she called out, "Take his head..."
"Kill... the beast..." Chris repeated, raising the blade and flinging it.
"No!" Vin screamed, tearing towards the ring. Kennedy slammed the rubber bat into his gut, sending him into a pile on the floor, still and silent.
Chris's head cocked when he heard the scream. He squinted at the walls of red and black shimmering fire that surrounded him. He felt the heat of the flames as they licked at his feet. He screamed as they fire consumed him, clutching his head as the pain reached an unmatched cresendo. He was unconscious before he hit the mat.
She flipped the button, turning off the camera as Kennedy eyed the bodies. "You know what to do. I'll be back at eight p.m. Have Tanner ready and make sure that tape is edited and taken promptly."
The thrill started building as she showered and dressed. By the time the summer breeze whipped through her hair, she was tingling. The bout went better than expected and the show at eight would only add to her excitement. By the time she reached the private room, upstairs at the Blue Grotto, she was on cloud nine. She reached the top of the stairs and two burly males grabbed her.
"What's the meaning of this?" she hissed, struggling in vain as they held tight on each side.
" Habib and Rahim," Amahl introduced, toasting her with a full glass of blood red wine. "My two bodyguards. A man in my position must be careful. Jafar..." he nodded to his aide who moved in with a leering smile.
She bristled as the slow search began. He frisked her legs, just past the knees and then moved around her. He dumped her purse out on an empty table and noted the contents. He picked up two silver CD's.
"The analysis of the samples." She answered, "The data, testing, all the notes, the dates and toxicity levels of each one. Everything you asked for."
"Did you bring them?" Amahl asked as Jafar moved behind her.
"No, of course not!" She denied. "I get half the money and you get half the samples, after the demonstration tonight." She bit her lip as the aide's hands rode up under her skirt and probed between her legs. She didn't understand the dialect, but the lecherous laugh was universal. His hands moved up her back, around her waist and under her blouse. "That's enough!" she warned as his fingers crept over her flesh, squeezing and pinching.
"He is quite adept and finding hidden weapons." Amahl grinned, "Leave us..." he ordered and all three men departed, locking the door. "You are a very attractive woman, Miss Newlander," he kissed her hand and sucked her fingers.
"I'm a businesswoman," She warned, jerking her hand away. "Shall we?" She picked up the discarded objects from her handbag. The sooner this dinner was over and the final figures determined, the better.
"You understand if any of this information is not correct, if so much as one sample is tainted, you will be punished harshly. I have ways to torture you that would please me very much." He warned, sliding his hand under her skirt.
"We don't have much time," she pushed his hand away and picked up her fork. "Shall we..." she speared a piece of crabmeat and flipped open her notebook.
Pain. A single word that never meant so much as it did at this moment. Pain. It throbbed in his head in pulsating red letters. Pain. It existed in every inch of his tender flesh. Pain. It met his gaze as he peeled his eyes open. He didn't dare move, the effort of opening his eyes was nearly blinding. He was alone in a room with little light. Alone?
"Vin... J.D..." Chris croaked, remaining flat on his back on the floor. Then a image so horrifying filled him that it both terrified and repulsed him at the same time. A brutal expanse of time and a vivid picture of him rutting her. He took her like an animal, full of lust and without remorse. "
"Fuckin' bitch!" he groaned, clutching his throbbing head. He remembered being tied to a chair, a sting of pain... and then the brutal event. A series of razors slashed his guts, sending him from the floor and towards the toilet in the corner. He dropped over the bowl and vomited, so hard and forceful it took his breath away. The room swam around and he clutched the porcelin with all his might. Finally, the room stopped whirling and the waves of agonizing pain slowed down. He swiped the spit from this lips and felt the swollen mouth. His fingers found bumps and cuts scattered all over his body. He pulled his shirt up and saw the blue and purple bruises, flinching as his fingers made contact with the tender area. Then he saw his hands... swollen and angry. A fight... a bad one... his mind remained clouded.
"What the fuck happened?" he cried out, grabbing a bottle of water and cleaning himself up. After washing the blood away, rinsing his mouth and drinking, he began to worry. Then he heard his own voice, bouncing off every wall. He jerked his head towards the ceiling and saw a monitor come to life. He heard his voice again, screaming 'kill the beast' and watched in muted horror and silent rage as he beat J.D. Dunne to a pulp.
"No!" he choked in horror, dropping to his knees as the close-up of his face appeared eyes glazed to a fevered pitch. The camera panned back, revealing the machete glistening above his head. The triumphant scream was echoed by Vin's horrid call in the background. "Jesus fuckin' Christ!" Chris anguished, dropping to his knees and clutching his abdomen as the bile rose. He scrambled, hugging the toilet and letting the bitterness flow out. Then he sank to the floor, stunned, shocked in paralyzed in pain.
Dead. That's the word that came to J.D.'s tortured mind when he regained consciousness. Nothing could hurt this bad and still be alive. Every inch of him screamed in pain. His head was splitting and he sat up, eyeing the empty room. Empty. Chris and Vin? He touched the swollen eye painfully and felt the cheek underneath already distorted in shape. His lips was split and painful to move. He tasted the metallic blood in his mouth and eyed the water bottle nearby. He took a mouthful and spit out a wad of blood, before consuming the cold beverage. Cold...that's what he felt inside. For a horrid moment, he thought maybe Chris and Vin were dead. Then he remembered Chris saying that she was planning on luring Buck to them for the final showdown on the fourth of July. They weren't dead, but they could be hurt. He ran his hands along his ribcage and felt the pain. Bruised, cracked or broken, it hurt like hell. His back, his hips, hell everything hurt. He curled up on the floor and tried to find a position that didn't cause every part of him to ache. One thought kept repeating in his head.
"I'm gonna kill that bitch..."
Cold. Colder. Vin shivered in the darkness and felt the icyness inside and out. The inky blackness was unrelenting and timeless. How long had he been here? Where was he? He heard the hum of the air conditioner and felt the icy blast across his naked flesh. Naked? Yes... his skin was pressed to a cold, hard, metal surface. No... he felt cotton fabric on his middle... he still had his underwear on. He couldn't move, straps bound his throat and hips. His legs were spread eagle, cuffed to the ends of a hard table. His arms were fully extended straight out past his elbows. He could only move his head a few inches.
Cold. The kind of bone shattering numbness that comes with paralyzing fear. He was scared. He'd never felt so trapped and helpless. Naked and bound to a table... totally at their mercy. The goosebumps on his flesh were sprung as much from what his mind told him she would do to him, as from the chilly atmosphere.
Cold. He shivered from worry. Where were Chris and J.D.? Were they dead? No... yes... he couldn't think about that. He kept seeing Chris's glazed eyes, J.D.'s body and the machete. He clenched his eyes shut as he heard the thud when it severed J.D.'s head. Before he passed out, he heard Chris scream. It was sound like he'd never encountered. He felt his eyes fill up when he recalled the blurry image of the guard taking J.D.'s body. Chris's eyes... unseeing and unblinking from the pale face in the middle of the ring. Lying flat out, not moving. He heard the guard grunt in disgust. The words came back. '...fuckin' idiot went and died... she ain't gonna like it' Died... dead... whatever she'd shot him up with killed him. A hand on his icy ribcage caused him to jerk in the dark.
"Hello Vin..."
"I'm... gon... gonna... f..f..fuck... fuckin'... k...k...kill. ya... b...b...bitch..." Vin stammered, the cold air causing his teeth to chatter.
"Oh, I don't think so," she cupped his face with both hands, "You're freezing..." she ran her hand down his torso and felt him flinch. "I apologize for the air conditioner, but the samples have to be kept cool."
Vin squirmed in the dark as the hand manuevered over him and then gasped when the lights came on. The sudden invasion blinded him, but the binding straps didn't allow him to move. He cried out and blinked as the harsh light hurt his eyes. Through blinking eyes, he saw her put on a lab coat and gloves. She went to the wall and picked up a phone.
"Well?"
"All done," Kennedy replied, "I'm heading back, should take about two hour or so..."
"You're sure?" she pressed.
"Yeah, logged onto the laptop and started tracing it. It's on it's way to the airport. Wilmington will get it tomorrow morning early." He peeled off the wig, he'd already scrubbed the makeup off in the bathroom. He'd driven south two hours and mailed the tape via Federal Express. "I edited it just like you asked."
"Excellent. Keep track of it, I want to know when he gets it." She hung the phone up and turned to a glass window in the wall. Amahl and his aide were watching her and Vin curiously. "Gentlemen welcome," she greeted, walking over to a large container on the floor. "It's time you were introduced. The young man on the table has volunteered to be my first human test subject for a brand new toxin I invented."
"What the fuck is that?" Vin hissed, pressing his back against the table as she approached. His mouth went dry when he saw the object in her right hand. His eyes were wide with fear and he struggled in vain as she drew closer.
"Vin!" Chris screamed as the monitor went on again. "Shit..." he pounded the floor when the image appeared. Vin was strapped, nearly naked and totally helpless to her evil whims. He saw the blue eyes wide with apprehension and felt Vin's heart pounding. Then he saw her right hand and his stomach fell through the floor.
"Vin!" J.D. called out, the worry in his voice matched Chris's. He sat up in his cell and watched his friend struggling. He hand unconsciously ran over his throat as he eyed the straps that confined the vunerable body. Then he saw what she carried and felt his guts churn. "Oh My God..." he croaked and bolted for the toilet as his stomach revolted.
"Get away... fr...fr..from... m...m...me ya f...f...fuckin' lunatic!" Vin hissed, as she waved her hand inches from his terrifed wide eyes, which were a vivid blue. He was quite handsome and she used her free left hand to gently brush the long, brown curls from his face. She traced a line from his temple, past his cheekbones and across his lips. "If you struggle, you will only make it worse. This represents years of hard work and you're the first human test subject. This is my future... something completely unknown to the scientific world... worth millions. For you, dear Vin," she brushed his forehead and traced her finger over his ear and down his neck. "I'm afraid the future isn't so rosy... your remaining hours won't be so pleasant, it's a dead end for you." She stood up and lowered her right hand, watching his eyes grow wide like azure saucers. His Adam's apple bobbed in a fury and his breath came in shallow pants.
"No!" Vin screamed.
The anguished call bounced off every wall in the confined room. Chris tried to dispell it, clutching his hands to his ears. The camera showed the terrified blue eyes, which ripped his heart wide open. The blood-curdling scream that split Vin's lips shattered Chris's soul. Try as he might, he couldn't tear his gaze from the screen. He heard every chilling word she said and his eyes were riveted to the object in her hand. As it descended closer to Vin's trembling ,vunerable flesh, his whole world crashed in.
"Vin!"... he screamed, pounding his bruised fists into the wall.
J.D. heard Vin's cry and it went right through him. Like Chris, he was terrified of the object in her hand and of words she spoke. His mind added up the clues and the deadly game she was playing with Vin. He was a human guinea pig for some sick toxin she'd invented. He watched Vin lying naked and exposed and the terrified look in the Texan's eyes. The camera closed in on her hand and he heard Vin scream again. He clutched his eyes closed and covered his ears, he couldn't bear to watch Vin be tortured and die.
"That's it guys, go on home..."
"Ten four, Davey..." Josiah returned to the operative on the corner, taking the headphones off. He was in the surveillance van with Jack Connelly of Team Four. Buck was with Ezra and Chuck Miller, who'd been working undercover for Formassi's gang for some time. Ezra was going to be brought in gradually over the next couple weeks. Buck was his bodyguard. They had spent the afternoon with Miller, making the rounds to some of Formassi's hangouts. Josiah felt awful for Buck, the rogue was like a pressure cooker about to explode. Thank God Ezra had a cool head and knew how to manuever Buck's moods. Josiah eased out of the van and crossed the street. Mike Ryan the team leader was inside a sports bar. He requested the three of them meet him privately there after their shift was done.
"Mike," Josiah nodded, flagging the waitress for a beer. It would be a few minutes before Buck and Ezra arrived.
"What'll it be?" the perky blond server asked the newcomers.
"A pitcher of Coors, four glasses and some menus," Mike Ryan ordered. They discussed the case for about ten minutes, eyeing the large menu and sipping the cold brew. Then Buck and Ezra arrived and Josiah expelled a long breath. Buck looked awful.
"How you doing, Buck?" Josiah asked as the forlorn figure slid next to Mike and across from him.
"I'm here..." Buck snapped, pouring a beer and gulping down half of it. He wiped the foam from his lip and slammed a fist on the table, sending the bowl of pretzels three inches to the right. "What the fuck am I doing here?"
"Maintaining your sanity," Ezra offered, staring at Buck's lost eyes. "Don't lose sight of what's important, Buck."
"Lose sight!" Buck vented, glaring at the southerner, "How can I? I see J.D.'s face every fuckin' time I close my eyes... shit... I can't sleep... can't eat..."
"Evenin' Brother..." Josiah turned to Ezra and smiled, "Glad to have you back in one piece..."
"I had my doubts..." Ezra mused, tapping his glass to the preacher's and offering a small smile. "But it's nice to know I'd be missed."
"It ain't you as much as the thirty dollars you owe me."
"What happened to turning the other cheek?" Ezra pursued, nodding to the waitress.
"That's a real challenge, bein' as how I'm sittin' on 'em..."
"Enjoying yourselves?" Buck shot angrily, draining his beer and refilling it.
"Slow down, Buck..." Mike warned. Twenty years as a team leader and numerous awards had earned him the respect of all who knew him. The jet black curly hair was just starting to go silver and the blue eyes were just as intense as they were when he wore a rookie's badge. "Losing your head won't get them home. Neither is getting drunk..."
"You don't own the rights to their friendship," Ezra warned, "Josiah and I have an equal stake in this. We have at least two days, maybe a little more. The clues indicate the Fourth of July as the culmination. There will be another contact... most likely tomorrow."
"He's still... they're still alive, Buck," Josiah added, "We'll find them. They're bait to lure you in. That shark's gonna raise it's head and we'll be there to blast it off."
The waitress appeared and they ordered sandwiches. After she departed, Mike eyed all three and laid a fatherly hand on Buck's sleeve.
"I'm sorry about this. I know how bad you want to be out there on the hunt. But orders are orders, my hands are tied too."
"I'm not blaming you, Mike," Buck sighed, raking his hands through his hair. "I'm just so fuckin' frustrated..."
"Look, I can give you a half day on Tuesday," he indicated of July 3. "You're not due back until noon on Thursday. It's not much..." Mike sighed and took a sip of his beer.
"It'll be enough..." Josiah nodded. "...and we're grateful."
"Indeed," Ezra agreed, knowing how much red tape the senior agent would mire through to get the extra hours.
"Yeah... thanks Mike... I'm sorry about today..." Buck offered, dropping his head. He knew his mind had wandered and several times Ezra's sharp tongue had saved them.
"Water under the bridge, Buck," Mike nodded as the jukebox across the way came to life.
Ezra winced as the familiar haunting notes began to swirl around the room. He saw Buck clench his eyes shut and shake his head.
"That's just perfect," he whispered, chest full of pain. "Somebody would have to play that fuckin' song..."
They remained silent, each remembering snatches of Vin Tanner, as his favorite song hovered over the table. Then the stanza that hit a little too close to home slammed into Buck hard and he pushed himself from the table.
" Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger...
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home...
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'...
Your prison is walking through this world all alone ."*
"Damn sorry assed Texan..." Buck muttered, walking away.
"Did I miss something?" Mike asked perplexed as Buck disappeared into the men's room.
"Buck and Vin had words the night Vin disappeared." Josiah noted gravely, equally moved by the song.
"Buck made some rather disparaging remarks..." Ezra added, thinking on Vin's collection of Eagle's CD's. They were a favorite of his and Ezra recalled fondly the day he, Nathan and Chris arrived early in the office and caught Vin singing the end of the song. He was holding the picture of his parents. His voice was sweet and low, nearly wistful. None of them said a word, slipping back into the hall and leaving him to his memories. "I'm sure they've been revisited nightly when he attempts to sleep."
"Damn..." Mike sighed, "...that's rough. Vin's a good kid, can't see him holding a grudge."
"True," Ezra agreed, "But this is a rather large heart in jeopardy..."
The song ended just as the waitress reappeared with their food. When Buck emerged, he looked pale and drawn, except for a hint of red to his eyes. Ezra doubted if Buck tasted the food and he left quietly, his blue eyes lost and longing.
Vin didn't think it was possible for his mouth to be any drier. He didn't hear a word she said after he saw it. Now she was waving it over his face. The scream slipped out uninvited, a single word denial of the impossible situation. He was gasping for breath, his eyes wide and terrified; he felt her hand on his face and jerked, then he saw her lips moving and tuned in on what she was saying, keeping his eyes shifting towards it.
"Not to worry, Dear Vin, soon you will feel Lucky," Jamie purred, stroking the cold skin on his chest.
"L... l...l...lu...cky?" Vin croaked, limbs now trembling from cold and fear.
"Yes," she cooed, waving her right hand over his large eyes, dangling her prize, "...short for Lucifer. A fitting name, don't you think?"
Vin stared in muted horror at 'Lucifer'. He'd seen pictures somewhere... maybe he'd seen it on television on the discovery channel. But right here in front of his eyes, it was the scariest object he'd ever encountered. Over six inches long and sporting at least thirty pairs of legs, it was blood red with a black mark down in's back. Pinchers snapped open and shut, anxious to sink into tender flesh.
"Wh...at... the... f...fu...fuck is... is..." Vin's teeth chattered.
"Oh, yes, you did inquire earlier," she agreed, "I suppose it's only fair to give you some background information. After all, you two are going to become quite well acquainted."
She moved away for a moment and he let out the breath he'd been holding. He jammed his eyes shut as sweat rolled into them, stinging him. Stinging... his heart clenched at the word, which now held an all new meaning. He opened his eyes and saw her push a button on the wall and a camera in the corner sprung to life. Another one right next to him on the wall, also came on.
"Gentlemen," she turned towards the wall. "Can you hear me?" She waited for the heads to nod and proceeded. "Good, let's begin then." She walked over towards the glass and held up her pet. "For the record, this is July 1st at 8:10 p.m. This is an adult Chilopoda of the Myriapod family." She turned it over and watched them back up on the other side of the glass; their faces wrinkled in disgust. "It's native home is deep within the South American Jungle. Some have been known to grown well over eighteen inches in length and boast over sixty pairs of legs. This modified front pair with the sharp edges," she indicated the jaw-like appendage, "normally would dispense venom. But after years of research and unsuccessful attempts, thanks to a brave primate named Socrates, I have achieved Nirvana."
She walked back over to Vin and smiled as he pressed his wiry frame against the metal surface. "This is our test subject, a lean specimin of the ATF variety. How kind of you to volunteer." she ran her hand up his tense thigh and smiled. "Excuse me, Mr. Tanner, I believe you would be more familiar with Lucifer's common name, a centipede - of the deadliest variety. There are ten more like him, each the proud distributor of a deadly toxin. They been adapted to a colder climate and are now ready. My little hybrids are now a lethal army and ripe for breeding. Each female can lay dozens of eggs... just do the math. Some of the deadliest diseases known to man: Smallpox, anthrax, ebola, cholera, maleria," She paused eyes glistening as her victim's heart pulse raced at record speed. "and all of the varieties of plague, you remember, an acute, contagious, epidemical and poisonous fever. These consist of three strains: pneumonic, bubonic, and septicaemic."
"Yer fuckin'... outta... yer... mind..." Vin stammered in the frosty air. "Ye'll never... get... get... away... with... it..."
"Oh, but I will, my handsome, young sample..." she traced her fingers across his belly and watched him swallowing rapidly. "While the rest of this inferior continent is celebrating Independence Day, I'll be jetting across the Atlantic with seven figures in a Swiss Bank Account. I do so love that number, don't you?" she teased his flesh with circular motions. "Alas, Poor Vin, by that time you'll be in rather dire straights."
Chris twisted on the floor in his cell, sweat pouring down his face. His fists were clenched so hard, his nails bit into the flesh. As he eyed the demented villianess, his mind began to shift and file every word she said.
"...that's only eight..." he cocked his head, "...eleven centipedes... eight diseases..." Did she forget the others or where three of the creatures hosting a less virulent strain of toxin. He made a mental note and did more calculations. Fourth of July was still three days away... she hinted Vin would still be alive. He still had time to stop her from killing Buck and save Vin. His mind flashed to the headless body in the macbre boxing ring. Was that an illusion or had he really killed J.D.? Her voice drew him back to the screen.
"Hold it in, Vin..." he willed the tense body on the screen through his voice, "...don't give her the satisfication. I'll find you..."
Vin licked his dry lips as she turned back toward the window. "Mr. Tanner's progress will be recorded, via these cameras and his vital signs will be noted. You'll have every given opportunity to view him via the monitor. Wouldn't want to get too close... it's highly contagious. The beautiful part of this plan is that as a scientific object, they are more easily made available through customs and can be bred quickly. They can be slipped into the population, both civilian and military, and render a whole city to it's feet. Their power is endless. They seek out moist, dark places and their sharp claws attack the skin. After piercing the flesh, the toxic material enters the bloodstream through the wound, leaving a trail of swollen skin in it's wake. There is a brief burst of intense pain and the victim quickly loses consciousness. After several hours, the symptoms start to appear. It's showtime..."
"You're dead bitch..." J.D. hissed, his eyes filling. His stomach was a mess and his heart was aching. Every time he looked at Vin, he thought of the early days of Vin's joining the team. How quickly the quiet Texan had become a close friend. He'd learned so much from Vin both on duty and off. Just last spring the two of them spent four days in New Mexico. Vin took him to the desert and taught him about tracking. He was so easy to like... and the next to Chris Larabee, the toughest man J.D. ever met. He'd seen Vin stare down cold blooded killers and his precise shooting was nothing like any of them had ever encountered. Then there was the short-tempered, cursing demon he played hockey with... His train of thought was interrupted when she moved over Vin's naval.
Moist, dark places... Vin's mind told him. His eyes widened in horror when her left hand danced across the elastic waist of his boxer shorts.
"Oh that would be too easy... wouldn't it..." she decided and saw him biting his lip. His eyes were mezmerizing and spoke volumes. She laid the creature down on Vin's ribcage and then moved back to watch.
"Zone out, Vin... don't look... " Chris ordered, drilling the screen with his eyes. "Zone out... zone out..."
He was only able to lift his head a few inches, but it was enough to see the outline of the centipede. He didn't have to see it... it's many legs were making swift movement down his abdomen. He felt the cotton on his boxer's move and clenched his eyes shut. He heard the thumping of his heart, so loud it sounded like a cannon.
She watched, her body tingling in anticipation as the creature's head lifted and it made it's decision. With deep, diabolical thoughts firing across a synapse or two, the centipede stalked it's helpless victim. It silent journey was marked every few seconds with a slight hissing sound as the horrid thing's razor sharp claws encountered fabric.
Vin shuddered and gasped as the many legs left ticklish sensations on his tender skin. He was breathing so rapidly, he thought he'd hypervenilate. Then he breathing slowed and he slowed his heart rate. Just as quickly as the fear came, it was strangled by an unseen hand. He put himself back in control and regulated his breathing. He stared hard at the clock on the wall, it's red rim became his focal point. He felt the creature slithering across across his groin and kept his eyes trained on the clock.
Jamie frowned in displeasure when her squirming, heart-racing test subject suddenly went into a trance like state. That was no fun... she eyed the clock and wondered what on earth happened to him. His features were calm and relaxed and his muscles slack. His chest rose in even motions and his fists uncurled, now resting flat on the table.
"That's it, Cowboy... " Chris coached, standing and moving closer to the monitor. He watched Vin's face go slack and the tense, blue eyes trained on the clock. He saw the dismay on her face and got a small lift. "Attaboy... zone out... zone out..."
"Well... well..." her voice rose in surprise when the creature slid out from the other side of Tanner's shorts. it moved across his thigh and hip, hovering briefly by his belly, before moving ahead.
Vin felt the dozens of legs moving on his skin, leaving it tingling and itchy. He felt his heart begin to race again as it drew closer to his neck. He heard the sharp clicking sound of it's claws snapping open and shut. His steady breathing trembled a bit and he felt the sweat pouring off his head and down his neck.
"Moist and dark... Oh God..." his mind screamed as the deadly invader crossed his collarbone.
"Hold on Vin... hold on... don't let her win..." Chris seethed, fists clenching in agony as the monster inched it's ugly head over Vin's chin. He felt like a knife-like pain when a single hiss of air escaped Vin's clenched teeth as the predator crawled across his nose and mouth. "I'm coming for you Cowboy... you gotta hold on... zone out... zone out..."
"I'm tryin'... I'm tryin'... Jesus Christ I'm tryin'... " Vin screamed in silence, answering the mantra in his head.
The smell was awful and he sucked his breath in, willing the horrid odor away. It's slimy body was stretched across his face diagnally, covering his mouth and nose. It's fearsome head was just below Vin's right eye. It raised it's head in curiosity, appraising the moist orb below. Vin watched in horror as it swung it's head back and forth, as if weighing it's decision.
Chris saw the change and felt his heart drop through the floor. Vin's nearly concave abdomen began to rise and fall rapidly. His flat palms balled up into fear-fused fists. He felt his eyes fill up with rage when the fuckin' thing slung across Vin's face. He couldn't begin to imagine how terrified his friend was.
"Hold on, Vin... I'll find you... zone out... zone out... don't let her win... You can do it... " He said in a strong voice, pressing his palms to the wall and drilling his eyes into the image on the screen.
"I can't... I can't... shut up... leave me alone... " Vin screamed back silently to the meddlesome voice. "Oh God... it's looking right at me... I'm fucked... I'm fucked... "
The snapping razors were right above his eyeball, so close they were blurry. He heard the clicking sound... over and over... as the beast mulled over it's decision. He felt the many legs dancing on his face and sliding in his nose and mouth. Just when he thought his worst fear would be realized and the razor-like stingers would pierce his eye, the head bobbed and it moved across his eyebrow and towards his ear.
"Aw fuck..." Chris hissed, watching the centipede moved towards Vin's ear. "Not that..." his heart fell. Every kid's nightmare, having a bug crawl in your ear and get trapped inside your brain. The rage inside him that had been building was now well past the redzone. He was beyond ranting and raging... he was in a dangerous area. A coldness decended on him and left him a numb predator. He would kill her... that much he knew. "I'm here Vin... I'll find you... I'll..." His vocal chords were cut off when the ugly beast's head rose. It was nestled on Vin's shoulder. "No! Bitch!" Chris screamed as the venomous talons hit the target.
For a brief moment, when the antenna's of the centipede brushed his ear, Vin's heart nearly stopped. Not that... anything but that. He didn't want that fuckin' thing crawling inside his brain.,/i> Then the room faded away for a moment and the silent voice in his head slid out of the shadows. He felt it in his blood and it gave him an unnerving calmness. The creatures legs shifted and it moved on, through his soaking wet hair and down on the curve of his back.
Snapping it's toxin-plump injectors together in glee, the looming centipede aimed at the moist, firm flesh of it's victim. It struck like a devil possessed, sending a burst of toxin into the deep puncture.
"Shit!" J.D. screamed. pulling the hair on the side of his head he'd been clutching. "Vin... Vin... she's going down. I promise..." J.D. vowed through the tears in his eyes. The horrid ordeal left him shocked. He saw the creature crawling over Vin's face and had to turn away, not able to fathom enduring something so vile. Strangely, when it stung Vin, he was silent. Then J.D. looked again and saw the silent scream on Vin's face.
"Fuck... Aw, fuck..." Chris paced, eyes drawn to the screen. Vin hadn't uttered a word. When the centipede struck, his blue eyes shot open and he'd issued a strangulated gasp. His mouth was a wicked oval and tears ran down the sides of his face into his long, wet hair. Then the fierce gasping began and eyes darted briefly towards the door. His fists opened and closed and he groaned a little. She'd moved away, taking the creature back to a large container plugged into the wall.
Despite the agonizing burst of pain when he'd been bitten, Vin now felt like he was floating in a sea of numbness. His tongue felt thick and his eyes were growing heavy. He saw her move away and felt something else. He heard the voice again, ordering him to hold on. He knew now where the voice came from... he felt it as much as the table under him. He took a deep breath and found the camera's eye. A brief burst of pain lanced through his head and he sent his final plea airborne.
Chris's skin pricked when Vin twisted in pain and stared right at him. He felt himself go numb and his green eyes were locked onto the picture. The call went right through him, taking his breath away and at the same time, giving him a small flag of hope. It wavered briefly... Vin heard his call.
J.D. saw and felt the same thing Chris did. He knew when Vin's head swiveled, who he was looking for. Was it possible that Chris was alive? Was here down here too? Vin was still alive... there was still hope. Somehow, Vin found Chris... and he'd find both of them. They'd get out of this together or send that bitch to Hell trying. The single word sent a tremor through him and renewed his faith. After it left Vin's lips, his whole body sagged. The only movement was the rising and falling of his naked chest. The screen went black and he sat on the floor, still seeing the large blue eyes and hearing the word called.
"Chris!"
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