CHAPTER THREE (PART SIX) - BRIAN He turned back to the panel as the robot looked at the gun it held, it pressed the button that cocked it while it still held it with its other hand. It fumbled with it and pointed it down the hall, not really sure if it could even aim it right, but it figured it was best not to argue more. As Howie worked the moans continued, the humanitarian in him, was tempted to go and see if it was a real person in trouble, the sensible side shouted at the humanitarian one to not be stupid. But the moans continued and he felt guilty and bad, it sounded so human. The robot did an about face and pointed the gun in the other direction just as Howie hit the last button, the round platform lit up and Howie grinned never so happy to see one elevator in his whole life. “Okay,” He said turning around as the robot turned to face him to. “Wow!” He yelped slapping the gun away from his chest that the robot pointed at on accident. It stared at him. He jerked his head to the platform. “Hop on.” The robot obediently turned and bounced over, Howie waited until it was on before stepping on it himself, the robot was bigger then a human and Howie foot over stepped the line, but he hit the button and as the glass slowly rose up, he pressed himself back until it did and he was pressed against the glass, just before the cylinder connected with the ceiling they heard one last moan. The robot managed to click its fingers. )))That’s not human right?((( It asked. “No,” Howie said sadly as they began to rise toward the ceiling, “Its not anymore.” ```( )``` The very first thing that struck Kevin as he and Brian rose through the floor, was the fact that this deck had some power to it. Some of the lights were on, that was odd Kevin reasoned, wouldn’t A.J. have said something about this deck having power? Then again, maybe that’s why he wanted to come to this deck, if it had power then the power unit had to work. Right? The platform stopped and the cylinder slid away, Kevin quickly hobbled out, Brian’s arm was slung over his shoulder and he was still unconscious. Dragging him out, Kevin turned to the elevator again as the tube once more came, he waited anxiously for A.J. and Nick, he was really worried about Brian, A.J.’s vague description was not the slightest bit helpful and despite being on a deck that had heat, he was still ice cold. Impatiently, Kevin watched as Nick and A.J.’s heads came through the light, they blinked as they rose. Soon they were fully on the deck, the cylinder rose into the ceiling and the light disappeared, Nick hurried forward to help Kevin with Brian, his shirt was ripped from where he had torn away some of the material to wrap his hand in, the cloth was already stained red. A.J. was looking around the hall utterly confused, he seemed lost. “Hey,” He trailed off as he pointed around. “What?” Kevin asked pulling Brian up more, his head hung so his chin touched his chest. “There power here!” A.J. said amazed. “You didn’t know that!?” Nick demanded. “No! If there was power on somewhere on this station, I would have been able to know about it!” A.J. was dumbstruck, this was really weird! He should have been able to detect this! Especially after that huge power boost from Brian, A.J. was at a loose. “Alright, screw it. Just show us where the safe house is.” Kevin instructed, figuring that they would figure out things one at a time. A.J. was still speechless, but he nodded and turned around. “Come on, hurry. Its this way.” He said hurrying forward. Kevin and Nick dragged Brian after A.J., Kevin wondered where Howie was right about now, and if he was okay. He hoped so, the man was generally concerned for other people, and had even stopped to help Kevin when he could have just left him there. At lest he had the robot, he thought without humor. They hurried down the hall, unlike the ghost ones they had been on, this didn’t have such an empty feel to it, though not by much. The hum from the lights buzzed around them, the light made the place seem more like it had been before all this had happened. Minus the doctors and guards of course. Hurrying around the corner A.J. rushed over half way down the hall to a door that was sealed shut. Kevin was relieved that the door was still in the part of the hall that light, the end was dark, pitch black. The tube shot out of A.J.’s hand and connected with the side panel, he looked far off. “This is it?” Kevin asked as they stopped. “Yeah.” As they waited eagerly Brian suddenly moaned and moved a little. Nick and Kevin both looked at him. “Brian! Brian!” Kevin said hopefully, trying to shake his cousin, but he didn’t wake up. Kevin swore under his breath as a beeping sound rang out, followed by a series of clicks. “Here we go!” A.J. announced as the tube came out, he stepped back and the door slid open, he jumped through. The place was sort of like the office, off to their right was a computer system like in the cryogenic room, only it was set up for someone to sit there. Monitors were blank behind the chair, ahead was another bar that was built into the wall, glass chairs and a table were next to it. Off to their left was a couch area, Kevin gestured to it and Nick understood, they quickly headed over there. They gently laid Brian on the couch, he still didn’t stir. “What wrong with him?” Kevin asked as Nick leaned down to see if he was alright. “Beats the hell out of me!” He said lifting Brian’s eyelid to see his eye, he noticed how his pupil was dilated. “It sure as hell would help if I knew what they did to him!” He looked around and pointed to a blanket, “Give me that!” Kevin quickly grabbed it and handed it to Nick who threw it over Brain, as he grabbed a pillow Kevin turned around and opened his mouth to ask A.J. if he could try to access the files again to see what the people here had did to him, when he saw A.J. had walked to the glass table, he was looking down at a plate. “Hey look at this,” He said puzzled lifting it up, it was a plate of chicken and rice. “So what? Okay granted its original-“ Kevin said impatiently when A.J. shook his head. “Nah man, I mean look at this, it’s new!” he said, a weird expression was on his face as he lifted it and turned it. “New?” Kevin asked doubtfully as he walked over. A.J. nodded. “How can a plat of food be new?” Kevin demanded as he walked up, he grabbed the plat and looked at it, A.J. looked over at the computer station and strode over. Kevin picked at the chicken and with surprise realized that it was still warm, as if it had only been out for a short amount of time. He looked at the light above the table and wondered if the light had kept it warm then dismissed the idea. No way it could have done that, placing his hand on the glass confirmed it, the glass was cool, the light wasn’t bright enough or hot enough to have kept it warm at all. He looked at it again his eyebrows furrowing together. “Hello!” A.J. called over in a tone that didn’t sound like he was very surprised at what he found, Kevin looked over as Nick stared to search the room for the aid kit. “What now?” Kevin asked still holding the plat. A.J. had walked up the three stairs to the computer chair, he spun the chair around and pointed an expression of, “well what do we have here?”. Gleaming in the light was blood, it had seeped into the apulestry on the entire headrest and down the back, A.J. touched it lightly and held up his hand. “Fresh,” He said rubbing the red substance on his fingers, it spread. “What the hell is this!?” Kevin asked sounding annoyed and confused. “Was someone staying here?” “My bet would be yes,” Nick said standing from where he had been searching in a cabinet, he held up an empty syringe. “They used the medical kit.” “Looking at this mess you would certainly hope so!” A.J. said looking at the bloody seat, blood also stained the controls. Kevin’s mind raced furiously, this didn’t make sense! Why would someone stay here? Were they waiting for help to come? Were they even still alive? Kevin suddenly gasped, “R2!” He said wide-eyed. “The robot was staying here?” A.J. asked confused. “No! I mean, remember what it said, in the cryogenic room, about how after everything had happen with the creature breaking out, someone activated only him specifically and was careful not to activate the other ones.” “And programmed him not to contact anyone,” Nick said also getting it. Kevin nodded grimly, “Whoever was here didn’t want to be found.” “But that’s stupid!” Nick cried, “Who wouldn’t want to be rescued?” Kevin had no idea, that was stupid, with that thing going around the station, who wouldn’t want to get away from here? This totally didn’t make any sense. A.J. was looking down thoughtfully at the consol, he spotted at button and pressed it, behind him flashes of light blinked and he turned around as the screens turned on. His eyebrows lifted and he whistled. “Check it out boys, seems our little guest had himself some entertainment.” He said. Kevin looked over and felt shock course through him, he slowly set down the plat Nick looked over and an expression of puzzlement crossed his face. “What, the hell.” Kevin said slowly as he walked over, A.J. folded his arms across his chest and sat on the consol. The screens showed what the cameras were recording at that very moment, even the deck they had been on. Every single screen, cameras recording where they had been also. “Is this a tape?” Nick asked stepping on one of the steps but stayed there, Kevin was tall enough to look over the consol. “Nope, it’s recording even as we speak.” A.J. said in a flat tone. “I thought you said the camera system wasn’t working!” Kevin exclaimed. “It wasn’t! At lest I couldn’t tell it was!” A.J. said defensively. “If you’re in the computer system, hell since you technically are the computer system, how come you couldn’t tell that the camera’s were on!?” Nick demanded. “Hey man! I was in the computer system, I should have been able to tell they were powered, but I couldn’t. All I can say is, I was in there, and as far as I knew, they weren’t on!” A.J. snapped back. “How can that be?” Kevin asked still eyeing the screen. “Restricted access?” A.J. suggested, “It’s what the people here did to the security system so I couldn’t get to it. But then again, I could tell if it was a restricted access.” “Someone really doesn’t want to leave or be found.” Kevin said shaking his head, this was getting more and more bizarre. “Question is why.” A.J. said turning around. “Who the hell cares? I say if they want to stay, they can stay! I on the other hand want out of this hell hole!” Nick growled. Kevin readily agreed, an idea suddenly struck him. “Hey A.J., see if you can use the camera system to find Howie.” He said. A.J. eyes lit up. “Hey! Good idea!” he said turning to the consol and began typing. Kevin looked over at Brian then at Nick. “Go see how’s he’s doing.” He requested and Nick nodded, he turned and walked away as Kevin looked back at the screen. “Okay, here’s what all the camera’s on the deck below are recording.” A.J. said turning around, the screen instantly changed, flipping to pictures of the dark deck. Kevin squinted, they really couldn’t see a lot with most of the lights off, but from what he could make out, he couldn’t see Howie. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, already he had a bad feeling being in the safe house, and he was afraid the creature had gotten to Howie. He sighed. “Alright, switch to the camera’s he-“ CLANG! Kevin instantly jumped as something hit the door, suddenly muffled sounds drifted through. It sounded like people talking, A.J. and Kevin looked at each other wide-eyed, Nick slowly stood also staring at the door. More muffled sounds, then the door started clicking. Kevin looked at A.J. wildly, “Get the light off!” He hissed quickly ducking behind the consol, Nick ran around to the side of the couch and hid behind it, he reached over and pulled the blanket over Brian’s head to cover him, he prayed it wasn’t the person who had been staying here, he had a feeling he didn’t want to meet him. A.J. hit a button and hid under the consol, he pushed the chair in front of him to hide him better. They waited as the clicking continued. The lights hadn’t fully turned off, the one above the bar was still on, but Kevin ignored it, they didn’t have time. Kevin listened intently but couldn’t make out the noises coming from behind the door, he tensed while when it suddenly whooshed open. Someone walked in and stood in front of the door as it slid shut. Kevin didn’t move, the person just stood there, he could see Nick hiding behind the couch waiting just a tense as everyone else, his eyes searched the floor wildly. Suddenly the person started to slowly look forward as they approached the side of the consol Kevin got ready to leap out. They stepped out and Kevin leaped, silently and swiftly. Unfortunately the person had started to turn to his side as Kevin did, he just barely caught Kevin’s attack. “AK!” Howie squeaked and fell over trying to jump away from Kevin, the robot had also caught Kevin’s attack and didn’t recognize him at first. )))Eeeeeeeeeeeee!((( It squealed firing off a bullet the sound exploding through out the room, it shattered the bars glass shelves. Kevin’s speed though, had him on the floor and rolling away he instantly was in a crouching position as Howie rolled over pointing the gun at him. Everyone froze. The sounds had been explosive and now the silence was defining. Kevin was the first to speak. “Howie!” He said surprised as recognition came to the Latino man as well. “Kevin!” He said in the same tone of surprise, the gun relaxing. Nick, who had been covering his ears, opened his eyes slowly, and blinked when he saw Howie lying on his stomach on the floor. He lowered his hands as A.J. peaked over the consol. Howie let out a little laugh. “Hey guys!” He said uneasily, “Miss me?” “D!” A.J. cried popping up when he saw who it was, Howie rolled over and waved as Kevin stood. Howie quickly scrambled to his feet. “Damn Kev! Give me a heart attack why don’t you!?” He joked. “Sorry.” Kevin said sheepishly. “Yeah, we thought you were the guy who was staying here.” Nick piped up. Howie looked at him blankly. “Huh?” “Tell you later,” Kevin said warily. “Hey man! Where the hell were you?” A.J. asked, happy to see his friend alive. “Well we managed to get up here with out trouble, more or less, but thanks to R2 here, we got lost.” Howie said looking over at the robot. )))I didn’t get us lost! We merely took a wrong turn!((( It protested. Nick hid his laugh behind his hand as Kevin shook his head amused. Looking down at Brian covered form, Nick’s expression changed as he quickly pulled the blanket off his head. He looked at the robot quickly. “Hey!” The robot looked at him. “Maybe you can help him!” He suggested. Kevin’s eyes lit up. “Yeah! You were taking care of him!” he said getting excited. )))Technically I was only monitoring the cryogenic pod he was in.((( “Who the hell cares? He’s sick! Take a look at him!” Kevin said annoyed. The robots fingers clicked as it looked over at Brian, it held up the gun with its two fingers and Howie quickly reached over and took it, he turned back to Kevin as the robot tromped over to Brain and Nick. “Here.” Howie said tossing him the gun, Kevin caught it surprised he turned it over and looked at it. “Where’d you get this?” He asked raising his eyebrows. “Uh……….got it from someone who won’t be needing it anymore.” Howie said. Kevin looked at him and saw his expression, he nodded understanding and looked at the gun again. “Well good thing you got this, don’t think the one was going to work out.” He said checking the clip. Howie nodded and looked over at the robot as it checked Brian. It clicked its fingers. “What’s wrong with him?” Kevin asked looking over. “Energy is gone.” Nick muttered, “It cracked.” Nick suddenly turned around and picked up an ashtray that had been resting on the table, he tossed it at the mirror behind the glass shelves of the bar and it cracked. Howie jumped as the image of him, Kevin and A.J. broke into a spider web. “Like that!” Nick said simply. “It’s leaking out now.” Kevin looked over at the mirror then back at Nick who was rubbing his eyes, it suddenly hit him that that was Nick’s psychic power that had been talking. Problem was, the riddle was to damn hard. “Well that doesn’t sound good.’ A.J. said breaking the tension filled silence. “No kiddin.’ Kevin said dryly as the robot stood back up clicking its fingers. )))Okay, I don’t know what’s wrong.((( It admitted. “Wonderful!” Kevin moaned putting his hand over his face in a gesture of hopelessness. “Well you really shouldn’t be that surprised,” A.J. said, everyone looked at him. He shrugged, “Working units are programmed for specific tasks, and only to do those tasks, there not programmed with medical training or with knowledge about the projects here.” He pointed out. Kevin sighed as Howie nodded confirming A.J.. “He’s right, the only way to know what happened to him is to figure out what the people here did to him.” He said looking back at Kevin. Kevin thought for a moment then looked back up sharply at A.J., “A.J.!” He said. “Can you try to get into the files again and see what project Brian was transferred to? We have to start somewhere.” “On it major!” A.J. said taking a seat, but was careful not to lean back onto the blood, he held out his hand and the tube shot out into the consol, he immediately was pulled into the system. “What about the power unit?” Howie asked. “Gonna have to wait,” Kevin said sadly, Howie nodded not minding, his eyes trailed over to the bar and he broke out into a grin. “Scuse me,” He said breezing past Kevin and hurrying over to it, Kevin watched him go amused. “You’re an alcoholic you know that?” Nick said as Howie walked up to the bar. “I am not! Besides, in a situation like this, I don’t think anyone would mind all that much if they shared some of their generous supply of beverages!” He said as he scanned under the bar at the bottles. “Why not, its not like their gonna use it anymore.” Nick muttered sitting down on one of the seats. The robot stood there unsure what to do, it clicked its fingers before deciding to head over to A.J.. With a sigh, Kevin sat down at the glass table and picked at the dinner, ( or at lest he thought it was dinner, he still didn’t know what time it was ) while he waited. Man, this feels almost normal, Nick thought looking around, like were in a doctor’s office or something. Everyone lapsed into silence as A.J. worked, Kevin looked at the chicken and frowned. Why would they want to stay? He wondered, as the silence went on, save for the sounds of the robot walking around, and the clicking of glasses as Howie poured himself a drink. Dose it have to do with Brian specially? Seemed likely, but Kevin’s instincts told him other wise, this might involve him some how, but there’s something else they were not getting. Something big. Nick looked over at Kevin as he picked at the food, like all the answers where hidden it and he was trying to find it, he wanted to thank Kevin for saving his life but wasn’t sure how. What the hell do you say? He demanded to himself, gee, thanks for the save? Hope you’re around again when it undoubtedly will happen once more! Get real. Nick decided to wing it, he turned around. “Hey Kevin,” He called over, the older man looked up. “Hum?” He grunted. Nick squirmed, he wasn’t used to showing gratitude, hell ever since being here he figured what the hell was the point? Why should he be grateful for the doctors for screwing around with his brain? He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Just uh…….wanted to say…..you know. Thanks.” He said uneasily. Kevin looked at him blankly. “For what?” “For saving my life!” You moron! Nick mentally added not believing Kevin hadn’t known what he was talking about. Kevin’s eyes lit up as that registered. “Oh! No problem.” He assured then looked back down, Nick and Howie exchanged weird looks. “Yeah, cause, like you know, its no biggie!” Howie said sarcastically, Nick snorted as Kevin looked back up. “What?” Kevin exclaimed as the two started laughing. “Technically its what I’m supposed to do. In the Squad Force I was the commander, it was my job to complete our mission and protect my men. Its like some sort of unseen code you have to follow, you know, sacrifice yourself in a instant for your friends.” “Wow,” Nick said impressed looking thoughtful, he paused for a few seconds. “That’s kind of a crappy code to live by!” He burst out and all three started laughing. Their laughter ended when A.J. suddenly spasmed. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzttttttttttttttttttttt! “Ah!” He yelped ripped the tube out of the consol, he rubbed his wrist looking insulted. “Son of a bitch!” He said and pounded the computer. “Hey! Hey! Hey!” Kevin said jumping up as A.J. whacked the consol. “Don’t break it!” He said. “Damn thing shocked me!” A.J. cried. “I tried to access the files and it shocked me!” “Well still, don’t break it!” Kevin said patiently as he walked over. A.J. gave it one more spiteful whack as Kevin came up. “Useless piece of crap!” He muttered as Kevin looked over. The buttons on it glowed and blinked, Kevin would have had no idea what to do, he looked over at the robot as it stood off to the side, tapping its fingers together. He sighed and looked back at A.J. who waited for instructions. “Alright, we don’t have a choice, were gonna have to forget about-“ Kevin trailed off as he yawned. “The files.” He finished. “We should get to the power unit now, if someone can come soon enough then maybe they can help Brain.” A.J. nodded as the robot timidly raised its hand. )))Maybe you should get some sleep!((( It suddenly suggested out of the blue, everyone stared at it. It clicked its fingers. “Maybe we should what!?” Howie said in a tone of disbelief. )))Sleep, you know, you might need it so you’re all regenerated and strong again. And can think and work better.((( It offered. “How the hell are we supposed to sleep?” A.J. demanded. “I don’t know about you guys, but with a creature running around wanting to eat us, sleep is the farthest thing from my mind right now!” Kevin on the other hand, was looking thoughtful, after the days, ( at lest he thought it was the day or had been about a day ) events, he did feel exhausted, after all the adrenaline had gone through him, the after affects were setting in. Kevin hadn’t realized how tried it was until the robot had pointed it out. A.J. saw Kevin’s expression. “Your not seriously thinking about sleeping are you?” he demanded. “Well what harm could it do?” Kevin said looking up, “How can we survive if were to tired to run away from that thing?” “Oh please! I think if that thing was chasing you, tired or not, you’d be running like a bat outta hell!” A.J. pointed out. “I know I was.” Nick muttered. “A.J., like it or not, were still human, and as far I know, humans need sleep, cause you either go insane from lack of, or you will be to tired to move.” Kevin said calmly. “I don’t need sleep!” A.J. protested. Howie snorted earning him a death glare from A.J., he smiled innocently as he took a drink. “Then don’t sleep!” Kevin said losing his patience. “Listen, is anyone else here the slightest bit tired?” Silence for a moment before Nick raised his hand a little and Howie looked down muttering. A.J. pouted as Kevin nodded satisfactory, he turned to A.J.. “You said so yourself that this room was completely cut off from the rest of station, so we should be safe.” “Should being the opportune word,” A.J. muttered not sure why he was arguing so much, but felt like he should at lest voice the bad objective of going to sleep. “May I remind the Major, what that thing said to us?” A.J. curled his hands into claws in an imitation of Nick, “Sleep tight! I’ll be coming for a bite tonight!” He growled out as best as he could. Kevin hadn’t thought of that, that phrase really creped him out. He thought for a moment. “How about we take shifts.” He suggested. A.J. knew he was fighting a loosing battle so he quite while he was ahead, he relented and nodded. “What the hell.” He muttered sighing. Kevin turned around to the others, Howie shrugged as Nick turned back around and stared ahead. “I’ll take first watch!” A.J. called over. “Surprise of all surprises.” Kevin muttered walking away, A.J. stuck his tongue out at the older man. Truth was, he didn’t need to sleep, energy was still racing through him, hell, he could stay up all night if they wanted. Which he probably would end up doing. He didn’t mind though. But he also had a feeling that they wouldn’t be sleeping easy tonight, if they by some miracle, they slept at all. BACK NEXT |
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