CHAPTER THREE (PART TWO) - BRIAN “)))Oh!((( The robot suddenly yelled waving its hands around in the air panicked. )))I forgot! He’ll need juice!((( Whirling around the robot took off for the other side of the room, Nick stared at it as it ran by. “Juice!?” Zeeeeeeeeoooooooommmmmmmmmm! Nick jumped when suddenly a loud humming noise rang out. One of the pods, came out of the tower it had been half way into, the cover that blocked the glass slid back as it came out. Nick and Kevin looked in. Brian slept peacefully inside, ice crystals had formed around the glass vaguely obstructing the view, but they could see well enough inside though. Brian’s parlor was a grayish color due to the immense cold needed inside, tubes and wires connected into his skin. It struck Kevin of how much his cousin looked like he had when he had last seen him when he was thirteen. He looked over at A.J. as Howie came over curiously. “Almost got it……….” A.J said his eyes squinting in concentration. His mind furiously plowed through the jumbles of useless information, plowing through them and setting them aside, trying to get to the blocks in the system that would open it. In the maze of information, a strand of numbers caught his minds eye and he followed it on a almost roller costar ride. His glowing eyes widened, “Here! Got it!” He said triumphantly. Suddenly from the pods side computer a beeping sound rang out, the same sound of a heart monitor in a hospital. “Administering drug stimulant,” A.J. called over, inside, a green liquid filled one of the tubes in Brian’s skin. “Adding in……… a drug who’s name I can’t even being to pronounce!” Howie and Nick grinned over at the computerized man as he used the system to his advantage, manipulating it to do what he wanted. A.J. squinted again. “Slowly, speeding up heart rate.” He announced. Everyone looked down holding their breaths. “Shutting down cooling system!” A.J. rattled on as the robot returned, carrying a tray that held a small round glass. In it was a thick dull orange substance, a long needle was also there, the syringe filled with a pick drug. )))Here!((( The robot said proudly shoving it into Kevin’s hands, who took it flustered. “What the hell is this?” He demanded looking down at it. )))There needed for when someone comes out of a cryogenic status.((( The robot said, clicking its fingers together. )))The injection is for helping the body return to normal temperature, the drink is for giving them strength!((( “Oh,” Kevin said looking at it again. Nick and Howie looked back into the cryogenic pod as the heart monitor started going at a slow but regular pace. Brian suddenly moved inside, he gasped and his eyes opened a little. “Okay dokey guys!” A.J. called over, “You can open it up!” Howie looked down at the machine and hit a button, a hiss rang out and freezing mist spilled out. Howie jumped back for a moment while it cleared, before stepping back and grabbing the lid, Nick stood on the other side, he grabbed the lid as well and helped lift it up. Brian was taking in short, deep breaths that came out in gasps, he moved a little, looking like his muscles were spasming. He shuddered and closed his eyes again still shivering. The robot grabbed the needle off the tray as Kevin tried to look into the pod, the robot bounced over. Howie’s eyes suddenly widened, “Wow man! Check that out!” He said in awe, pointing. Running down Brian’s chest was a long cut from where he had had surgery. But that’s not what Howie had meant, the cut wasn’t closed all the way, it was still open about a few centimeters, stitches were over it, but it looked like it had been deliberately left open a little, a few thin metal rod were placed in between the skin to keep it open. Nick wrinkled his nose. “Oh! Ow! That has to hurt!?” He said wincing. “Is that supposed to be like that?” Howie asked, disturbed by the sight of that. “No,” Kevin said looking down, also disturbed by what he saw. “That’s not how it should be done. As a matter of fact, after surgery he shouldn’t even be in a cryogenic pod, if you did that and left him there it would take thousands of years to heal!” Nick snorted, “Some doctors.” He eyed the robot, “Do you know why they did that?” )))Who! Me? No! I don’t know, I’m just doing what I was programmed to do! They don’t tell me anything!((( The robot said hastily. It held up the needle . )))If you lift him up I can give this to him.((( “Lucky him!” Howie muttered reaching down and gently grabbing Brian’s arm, Nick grabbed the other one. His fist impulse was to immediately let go, it was unnatural for a human being to be this cold. Even if someone were to be left in the artic, they wouldn’t have been this cold. Nick fought back the urge to let go and they began to pull him up. Brian groaned in what little protest he could make, he felt so weak he whished he could just stay where he was. He was so numb he couldn’t even feel the biting cold anymore. Howie and Nick pulled him up into a weak-sitting position and held him there, Brain’s head fell forward for a moment as he gasped for air. The robot tromped forward with tilted Brian’s head to the side, it aimed the needle at a specific point in his neck and thrust it in. Brian immediately cried out and jerked in reflex, his action catching Nick and Howie off guard, they almost let go, even Kevin jumped back a little. “Wow! Wow!” Howie yelped, trying to keep him up, Brian made horrible gagging noises and tried to pull away. “What are you doing!? Hurry it up!?” Kevin shouted in fury, his hands gripping the tray so hard his knuckles turned white. The robot quickly injected the fluid and pulled the needle out, it jumped back as Brian let out a hiss of air. He could feel the liquid go through his veins, it flowed through him, staring out warm then it faded, leaving him freezing. The robot swiped the glass and turned back around. It held it up to Brian. )))Here, drink this.((( It ordered holding it out to Brian’s mouth. Brian opened his mouth obediently and the robot put the glass between his lips, tilting it back so that he could drink. He instantly gagged on the horrible taste and tried to spit it out, but the robot held it in his mouth until he had drank a significant amount before pulling it back. Brian coughed and wheezed, Howie looked at the glass puzzled. “What is that?” He asked taking it, he sniffed it but it didn’t have a scent, so he tasted it. Nick stared laughing hysterically as Howie spit it out instantly, a look of pure disgust on his face, he continued to spit wildly onto the floor, trying to get the way to salty sweet taste out of his mouth. Even Kevin laughed. “Oh my god! What is that!?” He yelped mortified. )))It’s a vitamin solution made up of nutrients to help a person.((( The robot answered simply. “Ugh! Shit man! No wonder you didn’t like that!?” Howie exclaimed turning around. The robot turned and dashed off again, Kevin stepped out of its way and put the tray down on a consol, and hurried over next to Howie. Brian started shivering, his teeth chattered, his lips looked blue to. “I-I-its s-s-s-s-so c-c-cold!” Brian moaned. )))Coming!((( The robot called rushing over. It through a blanket over Brian’s head, Kevin reached over and pulled it off, and Howie and Nick pulled it around Brian, who was now able to sit up with out help, he hugged the blanket around himself tighter. The robot pushed past Nick and began pulling out tubes and IV’s. Brian eyed Nick as he circled around to the front of the pod. “W-w-w-who are y-y-y-y-you?” He chattered. Nick straightened up. “Oh! Uh, Nick. Nick Carter.” He nodded towards Howie. “That’s Howie, and that’s Kevin.” Brian looked over at Howie trembling, Howie gave him a big grin. “Hi!” He greeted, Brian just looked at him puzzled. Howie quickly stepped aside and held out his hands toward Kevin. “Recognize him?” He asked. Brian looked at Kevin who stood up a little taller. He felt awkward as Brian scrutinized him, trying to remember. “N-n-n-no.” He said, but sounded like Kevin did look a little familure. Kevin wasn’t that surprised, even though Brian had disappeared six years ago, it had been almost seventeen years since he had last seen him. And Kevin sure as hell looked different. “Aw sure you do.” Howie said, slapping him on the back. He reached across Kevin’s face and tapped the red ridge on it. Kevin pulled back annoyed. “See? Remind you of a certain family member?” Brian took a closer look, he stared at Kevin for a moment longer before his eye lit up and widened. “K-K-Kevin? R-Richardson?” He asked, taking a wild stab in the dark. Kevin’s face broke into a grin, he waved. “Hey cous.” He said, still slightly awkward. Brian let out a little broken laugh, “W-w-what the hell a-a-are you d-d- doing here?” “Well I could ask you the same thing.” Kevin said, despite where they were, happy to see a familure face. “N-n-n-no k-kidding.” Brian shivered again. The robot suddenly threw a small towel over Brian’s head and began whipping off the ice crystals, Howie snorted at that sight. A.J released his mind from the system and he blinked, the glowing green in his eyes instantly disappeared, the stings of numbers and information jumbled together that had danced in front of his eyes also instantly vanished. Looking down, A.J. typed a few buttons with the hand that had sunk a little into the computer, it rose back up after a clicking noise. Reaching over A.J. hit a couple more buttons and the tube coming from his shoulder, disengaged and slid back into the suit, the tube from his hand did the same. Grinning, A.J. flexed his hands. “How do you feel?” Kevin asked as soon as the robot pulled the towel away, Brian’s hair was now sticking out in different directions. “L-l-l-like s-s-shit!” Brian moaned. )))Dose your chest hurt?((( The robot asked. Brian suddenly stared wheezing and coughing, he gasped in breath that he couldn’t manage to catch. “I would take that as a yes!” Howie answered for Brian, and the robot turned and hurried off again. Brian sounded like he had something caught in his throat that he couldn’t get out, finally, after a small fit of coughing, he gasped finished. “You done?” Kevin asked concerned. “Yeah.” Brian gasped, breathing hard. “What’s wrong with you?” Howie asked. “He has a diamond heart.” Nick said snapping his fingers at Brian, everyone looked at him as A.J. came up. “There’s power inside that opens up doors. Can’t you feel it burning?” He asked looking at Brian puzzled. Instead of looking at Nick odd like most people would if he said that to them, Brain just shivered and hugged himself harder, he let out a weak laugh. “R-r-right now, b-b-b-burning would b-b-be a s-sensation I w-w-would gladly w-welcome, if I c-c-could feel it.” He gasped. Kevin suddenly remembered that Nick and Brian had already met, Brian probably knew about Nick’s power, that’s why he probably wasn’t fazed about it. He also remembered what Nick had said about his power coming out as a riddle. Before he could ponder Nick’s words Brian was talking again. “W-w-what’s g-going on? W-what happened to the d-d-d-doctors?” Kevin fell silent, and everyone exchanged looks, Brian looked at everybody waiting for an answer. Howie suddenly grinned and reached over and slapped him on the back. “Oh. You’ll know soon enough.” He assured, which earned him another puzzled look. The robot returned again with a mug and a shirt. It held out the mug, which was steaming with a brown liquid inside. Brian took it with uneasy and shaking hands, he raised the mug to his lips and drank eagerly. The warmth traveled down him, the liquid tasted like cider. Brian drank it all and handed it back to the robot. “Thanks.” He said. The robot held up the long sleeved cotton thin shirt. )))If you can stand, you can wear this.((( It said. “Think you can stand?” Kevin asked. “I d-d-don’t care. Just g-get me out of t-t-this thing.” Brian cried. Kevin nodded and grabbed his cousin’s arm, Howie moved around to the other side and grabbed his other arm. Brian tried to weakly use his legs, but they didn’t really seem to be working right, Kevin and Howie pulled him out, the robot even tried to help. Pulling Brian out from under his arms, the robot, Kevin and Howie helped Brian out of the cryogenic pod. Nick stood at the front, not sure what to do. As the three, well two men and robot set him down, Brian’s legs gave out and he fell, if Kevin and Howie hadn’t been there he would have fell painfully to the cold hard floor. “Shit!” Kevin yelped, easing Brian down onto the floor. “Okay, maybe I wasn’t that ready.” Brian groaned sitting. )))Wait here! I’ll get a energy stimulant!((( The robot said whirling around and charging off before Brian could protest. Nick, who had come around, laughed when Brian groaned. Kevin stood up after making sure his cousin wasn’t going to pass out. “You okay?” He asked. “Yeah, I guess so.” Brian coughed a little. “Man what did they do to your chest?” Howie suddenly asked. Brian’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, he pulled the blanket away from himself to look down. “What do you mean…….” His voice trailed off, “Oh my god.” He said when he saw the cut, he sounded slightly panicked. He delicately touched it. “What the hell!” “Uh, calm down!” Kevin advised not wanting Brian to relapse. Okay, probably wasn’t the best time to bring that one up. Howie thought. “Calm down!” Brian echoed shrilly, when suddenly the loud sound of metal bending rang out. Everyone stopped talking. CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! Afraid to speak, everyone looked at each other, the familure feeling of unease settling in. Brian looked around confused. “What’s that?” He asked. “Ssssssshhhhhhh!” Nick hissed, everyone looked at him this time as the sound of metal bending even more echoed out. “It’s crawling in the walls? Can’t you tell?” Nick asked looking around. CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! CREECH! CREECH! CREECH! Silence. “I really hate this thing.” Howie said, sounding scared as he looked around. “Why the hell dose it keep bugging us!?” Howie demanded, his voice raising an octave from fright. “What thing?” Brian asked confused. “It’s gonna eat us alive.” Nick whispered backing up a little, his eyes fixing on the ceiling. “That’s its plan, not mine!” Kevin snapped. “Uh, guys.” A.J. called over nervously, he was slowly circling around one of the pods, his gaze also fixed on the ceiling. He pointed. “Nick’s not far off about it being in the walls.” Everyone looked up with the exception of Brian, who shivered and hugged himself even tighter. CREECH! Four puncture marks were in the ceiling, the tips of claws stuck out. Slowly they slid out, and something began to drip out. Blood. It splattered against one of the pods, it dripped off leaving a crimson trail. Options raced through Kevin’s mind, this thing as it seemed, was trying to drive them out, and if that didn’t work it could always just breaking through, and they would be trapped, where it could eat them. “Shit!” He hissed, fast running out of ideas. CREECH! More puncture marks, it squirmed and they slowly drew out more. A faint moan drifted through, the same slow moan of it. Even the robot stopped and looked around, the needle still in its hands. Kevin made a quick decision, “A.J.!” He snapped. “Open the door!” “What!” A.J cried in disbelief, “Are you nuts! If we go out there then it’ll get us!” “Better out there with a running chance, then in here with none!” Kevin snapped back. “Open the door.” A.J. reluctantly turned and ran to the door, while more claws slammed through the thick metal. “It wants more.” Nick said, his power picking up on its awesome hunger that only it and he could really know about. Kevin pointed the gun at the ceiling and fired once. The bullet pierced through the metal. The creature screeched as it either hit it, or grazed it. “There,” Kevin said sourly, “It got more.” The creature growled, and the women’s scream that they had heard earlier rang out through the ceiling. Howie felt his throat close at the sound. “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” It sounded like she was being murdered up there. Nick’s heart pounded at the continuous screams that weren’t really coming from a woman. Kevin paused for a moment, before quickly looking down. “Let’s go!” He barked and everyone leaped into action. Kevin grabbed the shirt off the floor while Howie and Nick lunged forward and yanked the blanket away from a stunned and very confused Brian, who had know idea what the hell was going on. Kevin and Nick yanked the shirt over his head, ( he already had the pants ) with out care of hurting him. Being dead would be a lot worse then a little pain. “What’s going on?” Brian asked as he pulled his arms through the sleeves. “Several things!” Howie snapped grabbing the younger man’s arm. A.J hit the button next to the door and it beeped, before sliding open, he turned. “Come on!” He called over urgently. Nick and Howie pulled Brian to his feet and began dragging him away while Kevin stayed behind to cover just in case. As the three ran out the door, the robot bounced around next to A.J. still looking up at the ceiling as more claws ripped through the ceiling. Its fingers clicked together as it turned to make a move to go the other way when A.J.’s hand shot out and grabbed its back. )))AH!((( It squeaked it surprise as A.J. hauled it out the room. “You to R2!” He snapped. )))What! Wait a minute!((( It yelped but A.J. shoved it out the door, and dashed out as well. Kevin was about to turn and run out as well when suddenly a metal shard was ripped away and something fell out. Kevin jumped when the bloody and gory clump hit one of the pods and fell to the ground with a sickening thud. Kevin didn’t want to know what the hell it was but it came out of a human body, that was for sure. He blanched at the sight of it, the smell instantly struck him and nauseated him. Nick shuddered and let go of Brian’s arm, taking a step back he hissed. “Eat you up! Eat you all up till there’s nothing left!” The creature growled through Nick. Upon hearing that Kevin turned and ran, ran from that horrible sight and that terrible thing that in the end, might just do what it promised. As soon as he was out the door, A.J. hit the button closing the door. As it slide shut the thing made another promise. “Be sure to sleep tight!” Nick rasped, Howie backed up dragging Brian back as well, Kevin stopped and looked at Nick. “I’ll be coming tonight for a bite!” A.J.’s eyes widened at that, even that made Kevin shudder slightly. Nick started laughing, laughter that wasn’t his own, insane evil laughter. Kevin’s face suddenly turned furious, he lunged and shoved Nick with all his might into the wall, cutting off his laughter. “Get out!” He snarled as Nick slammed into the wall so hard his head whipped back and banged against it. “Opf!” Nick grunted falling to the floor, he sat there for a second before looking up in shock. “What the hell was that for!?” He gasped outraged and unable to believe Kevin had just done that, even Brian was looking at his cousin wide eyed. “Sorry!” Kevin said quickly, “It was…..ah….” “Necessary.” A.J. supplied and Kevin nodded agreeing. Nick still looked dumbfounded but didn’t argue further, he rubbed the back of his head. A.J was pulling open the panel he had been previously been working on, the power unit. He yanked it open wanting nothing more then to hurry up and get going. Kevin sheepishly backed away from Nick over to A.J. as he flipped open the mini computer. From behind the door, the faint metal screeching stopped, and ever so softly, they heard the sound of something being dragged away. They listened intently. “I think it’s going away.” Kevin muttered. “Yeah, and coming back this way!” A.J. said, his gaze still on the computer. “That’s why you need to hurry!” Kevin said. “No? Really? Thanks major, that old training sure is comin in handy!” A.J. said sarcastically, trying desperately to hurry faster. Kevin straightened insulted and opened his mouth, undoubtedly to smart off when Howie quickly jumped in. “Tension! Tension!” He warned Kevin, who backed off but didn’t look happy about it. Howie helped Brian over to sit next to Nick, after lowering him to the floor he turned around and almost collided with the robot who jumped back and clicked its fingers. )))Um, what do I do?((( It asked, this hadn’t been in the program instructions. “Uh,” Howie thought for a minute then shrugged and patted it on its shoulder. “Stay.” He suggested and quickly hurried around it before it could say something else. )))Stay?((( It echoed puzzled. Nick groaned and rubbed his head, Brian looked over at him while hugging himself. Not only was he freezing still, but now he was staring to feel nauseous, the urge to throw up was staring to surface. “I think I took one to many psycadelic trips today.” He joked and Brian laughed. “I c-c-can r-relate.” He said. Nick grinned at him and then looked forward where Kevin was standing by A.J. who was typing and working through the codes as fast he could. Howie had made his way over past them and near the corner listening for the creature. Brian quickly covered his mouth when he felt that damn awful juice about to come up, he forced it back down and just made himself feel worse. Nick eyed his reaction. “Need to throw up?” He asked bluntly. Brian lowered his hand, he still looked a little blue from the cold. “Maybe.” He muttered. Nick nodded understandingly, “Well if you have to go ahead. I don’t care, just as long as you aim that way,” He said pointing by the robot. Brian grinned and lurched forward pretending to throw up on Nick, both started laughing despite the situation. BACK NEXT |
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