Experimentals

"Yo, I'm back."
Everyone was sitting down and had a serious look on their face.
"I'm just gonna grab Locks."
He picked up locks who was still sound asleep and carried him out the door.
"Were around back in the shelter that looks like a drunk hobo built it."
He walked around to the shabby shelter they had built.
"Jess I got Locks."
"Ok put him down on this to thing of cloth."
"Are you even any good at this."
"Yeah I can't really fight so I learned a decent amount of ways to support the team medical is my specialty."
Jess sewed a few wounds shut mesily and washed the blood off him using salt water. His clothes were ripped to shreds but that's all he had for now.
"Hey Jet what happened back at the labs. I don't remember anything between seeing my dad and then seeing locks save me."
"Some dude gave me my memories back but that's about all I can remember."
"So we screwed these people over and have nothing to show for it."
"Pretty much."
"I'm taking the rest of the cloth as a blanket."
"What the hell."
"Hes injured and I'm a girl deal with it."
"You suck."
Jess and Jet drifted off to sleep
OOT: By them going to sleep I am also sleeping now adios

 

OOT- So much for my easy helipad escape . Looks like Zenma is going to have to point out the flaw in Project Crin. I'm going to light some fires. Some big fires.

The path to the helipad was blocked off. There were a few guards waiting in ambush, what gave them away was the random scientist who bumped into them on his way to the reactor. Looks like someone took the liberty in protection escape routes.
"Hmm. I afraid I didn't give the good old Dr Toufin enough credit. This isn't good. He's on to us now. and has probably ordered his clones to attack us on sight. The regular base people are probably confused about the conflicting orders but those clones are loyal to him. We need to get out another way"

"Then how about the docks?"
"I bet they're waiting for us there. We need to do something to distract them."
Another distraction, but what would work to throw off them off their backs? Leonard didn't have time to think of this answer for the two guards have left their post. They were patrolling the hallway they were on and made contact with them.

Without warning one of them shot a solid block of ice at Zenma. He shattered it into pieces with a punch of his hands.
"Damn! Run Leo, they'll be all over us in minutes if we start a fight here!"
Another solid block of ice was shot out ahead of them this time. They were trying to seal them in the hall!
Zenma shattered this block too.
"If they get a large enough group to set up an ice barrier then even I can't breakthrough. Split up! We'll confuse them on the way to the docks"

@ThatRandomGinger your clones are weak to fire right? I'm going to escape via the docks, no exception. However I'll plan to create a... sea of fire

 

Leonard took the left hallway. It was the longer of the two routes to the docks but probably safer
Probably

Leonard made it to an intersection before realizing too late he made a wrong turn. A solid wall of ice was blocking the path ahead!
That left two paths Leonard could take. One would head towards the lab area, it was a very roundabout way to reach the docks. The other the way was where he just came from but he knew his pursuers were coming from there.

Should I head towards the lab area? No... they're luring me in that direction. If they put a wall here then they probably thought ahead to block the lab section further ahead. By the time I realize that it would be too late and I would have trapped myself.

So what do I do!?

Leonard looked back.They'll be on him any moment!
Leonard felt a cool breeze from the vent beside him.
That's it!

Leonard took his sports coat off and threw it in the direction of the lab direction. He then forced the vent open and scurried inside, making sure to close it securely behind him.

As Leonard crawled through the vent system he heard a commotion behind him. They were forming a solid ice wall to the path of the labs.

That would buy me some time. I hope these vents lead me closer to the docks.

 

"True, the enemy of my enemy is my friend' but 'a wolf wears the sheep's clothing'"

Claus chuckled at this response.
"A wolf in sheep's clothing, you say? That's a fair point; there may even be some truth in it. But even wolves hunt in packs to take down bigger prey."

"As for you lad, I'll give you the same offer i give everyone: Join us and fight the labs as you say you want to, make your own in the city, or die. Simple really"
"What do you say Claus?"

Claus nodded.
"Of course. That was my plan from the start."
He then started to pace around the room, inspecting his new home.
"As you pointed out, space is starting to become a concern. I think I can help with that. To make a long story short, my ability allows me to turn one object into another. I can use my "Transmutation" to create as much metal as you need from just about any material. Or any other materials you might need, for that matter."
He then shook his head, as if slightly disappointed.
"However, there are restrictions to this. First, I need a point of contact with the object I'm trying to copy if I don't already know what it's made of. My ability will then read the object's composition and I can recreate it at will. But...I haven't had any luck with organic objects whatsoever. It's a shame, really. That would make our issues with food supplies disappear entirely."
He shrugged as if to say "it can't be helped."
"Well, now that you know my ability, is there anything you want me to transmute at the moment? Perhaps a more...permanent fix for the roof would be a good place to start."

 

Locks sat up.
"I'm up!"
"Huh.....What the hell man I was sleeping!"
He looked over to see Jess wasn't in their shelter.
"Wheres Jess?"
"Outside trying to make a fire so we can cook the soup."
"I call the the mushroom soup."
"Fine I hate mushrooms."
He started to stand up and as he did he felt a splitting pain in his side.
"Bro sit down your injuries haven't healed yet."
"God I hate being hurt."
"As do most."
Jess walked into the shelter.
"Hey guys I got a small fire going."
"Sweet."
"What are we going to do."
"Why you asking me?"
"I don't know you've kind of been team leader for a while now."
"Oh. I think we should just stay with them for a while if they'll let us. We cant leave the area so this is our safest option. First priority for everyone is water."
"Makes sense."
"We have two options. Have Blaze and Frost purify salt water, or dig until we hit underground water."
"Well I'm not asking them for anything, I hate being in debt were getting our own water."
"Ok, Might as well."
Locks turned the ground into chain and used this method to dig far down leaving all the dirt in a pile next to them.
"There is your start."
Jet jumped into the hole and began to fire the dirt out using blasts of air."
"Tell me if you find anything."
"Ok."

 

Zach woke up to find himself in Leah’s room. His arm had returned to normal, and it sounded like everyone was doing something. His heart started beating faster, although he couldn’t figure out why. Then as he looked around Leah’s room, he figured it out; he was starting to develop a crush on her.

Zach went out into the main area, and saw that everyone was hard at work doing something.

“Well, looks like everyone is up to something, anything I can do to help?” Zach asked

He then overheard Leah talk about trying to plant a garden, and he had an idea.

“Leah, if we can have Atlas bust up the concrete to find dirt, I know that both myself and Claus would be able to morph scrap metal into a plot to put the dirt in, then just have Frost and Blaze get us fresh water. I’ll also work on making a container to store water in.”

“Also, thank you for looking after me when I was passed out. Later, if you have free time, I would like to talk to you about some of the data I found in the lab I hacked into.” Zach said this, and he could still feel his heart racing around her. He was going to have to learn how to control his emotions, or he would be royally screwed around the group

 

"No thanks, beside how do we know you can't do more than that with a little metal. Besides given a little team work we can make sheet metal to fix it. Just will need the resident Pyro to weld it together"
Atlas makes a response to Claus suggestion of him fixing the hole
"Now it's about time we did introductions, also give the recent events i'd say some ground rules are in order"
"I'll go get Locks and them"
"Good"
Echo had gotten all their attention and now everyone was in the room
"Alright, now that we got everyone here i'd like to welcome you to our little group, we are the Resistance. We fight the labs and try to get back at them for doing this to us. I'm Atlas, this is Echo, that's Blaze and Frost is beside him. As for everyone else it' seems you all have been meet before"
"Seeing as all the commotion we have been causing intentionally or other wise Atlas and I feel it's time we laid down some group rules to prevent anymore of this and worse us being compromised. Let me make one thing very clear, you don't 'agree' with these then go on your own"
"First thing is first, every man and woman here are their own, and can do as they please so long as it doesn't affect this group or any others within it"
"Secondly with the recent 'rescue' missions done by several parties, there will be no groups sent out as rescue. Should one chose to go out it is of their own will and risk, keep this in mind when you head out or start a fight"
"Third, everyone pulls their own weight. Be it getting money, getting food, recon whatever. This ain't a board house"
"We will be procuring firearms for those that can't use their powers fully or don't have an 'offensive' power"
Seems Atlas and Echo had set rules to follow, they seemed a bit strict but still allowed freedom. It was understandable thought, there they were trying to maintian a secret operation and we bring a shit ton of attention to them.
"As for water and food you all are thinking in the right way just too small, rather than just get water for our selfs we need the district's water flowing again"
"Yes, we already have a plan for that, Blaze, Frost we want you two to go out and get the main value back open. After a few days of having a LOW PROFILE they should think we left and reopen the district"
"Why do I have to go?"
"Yea, should she be resting" i add remembering how she could fully form an ice claw. Frost seems to turn away after i said that
"Because i don't well trust these guys to do anything stealthy. Besides I don't trust them"
"They stay here for a bit under our watch, might have them get some scrap metal so we can make more 'apartments'"
"Now get going, sooner the district has water the better"
Given our orders Frost and I head for the main pumping station

At the labs....

"Seems the clones finished sealing the hole that chain brat made, hmmm what to do what to do, almost 100 clones and two 'enemies'. Ah i know, let's test Zenma's power for a bit. have 50-70 play with him a bit."
Dr. Toufin the saw a report saying Leonard had taken the vents.
"Hmmm channel the air system to lead to him. Time to have the AC on full, with the help of a few clones hahahaha"

OOT: Yes @Doomguy Fire is Cryo based powers weakness and vicea versa

 

"I hate rules."
"Ditto."
Jess gave them a glare.
"Fine we'll abide by the rules."
"Sure."
"Jet follow me for a sec."
They both walked outside and locks leaned up against the building.
"You know Jess' Dad?"
"Yeah."
"I killed him when escaping."
"Shit."
"What do I tell her."
"This is your problem man. I'm leaving it to you."
Locks sighed and walked back inside to get Jess.

 

"COME ON! LETS HAVE SOME FUN!"

The crazy elite starts charging her plasma canon once more, Mr. Red jumps through the hole and lands on the ground. The plasma canon starts firing as he lands, he doges to the left and runs behind a wall, the beam stops as it hits the wall Mr. Red is hiding behind. Mr. Red rushes to the elite as her plasma canon is recharging, Mr. Red now a few meters away from the Elite, Mr. Red bites his arm and he tears some of his skin off. Blood starts to drip out of his arm as he gets closer to the Elite, the girl smiles.

"Foolish man."

The Elite presses a few buttons on the plasma canon and it turns into a small sphere shape. She throws it in the air and grabs a FN Five seven, that was hidden under her dress. She aims at Mr. Red who just realises the Elite with gun. Before she fires Mr. Red controls his blood to splash over her eyes, with that short distraction he grabs her arm. Zed watching from a the massive whole the Elite made, is amazed that Mr. Red is fighting like this, against the crazy Elite. The Elite still struggling against Mr. Red sees a glimpse of Zed through the thick blood, she swings her body and shoulder budges Mr. Red, Mr. Red lets go of her arms as they fall to the ground. While they both were still falling the Elite quickly aims her gun at Zed and then
BANG!
The bullet hits Zeds body, he screams in agony
"ARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!"
His eyes changes from white to red at that moment.
"Freaken hell kid, learn how to doge."
Zed looks outside and sees the Elite still fighting Mr. Red.
"I should help him."
Zed starts to get ready to use his power, but stops and turns his head to look behind him.
"Who's there?"
The person comes out of the shadows, his wearing a black suit with a dark blue bow tie. His wearing a mask with mini circle holes, a big long nose and a huge smile.
"Im actually surprised you could sense me, Im usually undetectable."
"Shut up and tell me your name"
*Chuckles* "My name is Johnny and i am one of the 6 elites."

 

Zenma was making his way to the docks. The ice walls weren't much of a problem. It was the waiting clone troops behind them that were giving him headaches.

How many heads have I smashed in? It looks like I have no choice
Zenma took off his favorite pair of black gloves and threw them into the garbage container. Another wave of clone troops were making their way towards Zenma.

The shockwaves that usually shoot out of Zenma's fist are invisible to the naked eye. This time however he removed the one restraint that limited his power. An ominous purple mist emanated from his fists.

"It's been a long time since I fought seriously. It was back when I was signing up for the city's boxing tournament. Ah good times. Never had to worry about breaking my desk in two because of this power."

The clones ignored him and shot a volley of icicles at Zenma.
"Your out of moves!"
Zenma closed the distance and expertly weaved through the attack. He ducked one icicle and delivered a deadly uppercut that severed the head off the nearest clone. The one closest tried to shoot Zenma in the back but Zenma whirled around delivered a vicious left hook that flung the clone straight into the wall. The force of it's impact left a hole that leads to another hallway. The third clone, oblivious to the danger around it, shot a pillar of ice straight up from the ground.

Zenma's footwork was superb however. Sensing that the ground was changing he quickly hopped to a better position. The ice pillar missed. Before the clone could follow through with another attack, Zenma threw a rapid speed punch right into the clone's belly. It left a gaping hole with no hope for recovery. The clone slumped down and died.

I got to get to the docks. I hope Leo is faring better then me.
Another trio of clones arrived. Zenma charged straight at them.
Got to hurry before they can group together!


Meanwhile in the ventilation system

Leonard regretted throwing his coat away. It was getting very cold in here. He thought he could see frost forming on the walls around him.
Either the lab has the greatest AC system ever built or someone is manipulating the temperature
An ice wall could be seen forming ahead of him. It was growing quickly
Oh shit, that's not good!
Leonard quickly crawled to the formation and was able to squeeze through it before closing behind him
Definitely not the AC system. I need to get out of these vents
Leonard started to look for the nearest vent exit. Unfortunately all the ones he found have been frozen shut! He started to panic, thoughts of being trapped in the vents threatening to overwhelm his senses.

Just then a huge force crashed near the vent beside him. The impact jarring loose the frozen vent caging. Leonard was to nervous to voice out help but he started to kick with all his might on the loose vent cage.
Come on open!

Slowly but surely the cage started to bend out

 

Zenma made it out to the docks. He was hiding out near the fuel dump. He saw a tanker making it's way to the dock to deliver it's monthly wares. There was a patrol boat docked that was guarded by a squad of those clones. On the aft of the ship a deck gun was mounted. Obviously this ship was used to sink any ship that wandered too far to the lab.
That would be useful. I need to wait for Leonard before making a move. Where are you?

Leonard froze.
Every inch of his body screamed at him to run. When he climbed out of the vent he saw one of those clone soldiers slowly getting up beside him. It looked like a fight broke out here. Nearby there was a hole in the wall. Apparently the soldier was blasted right through it and landed right beside the vent.
As the soldier staggered to it's feet Leonard picked up a nearby shard of ice. It felt icy cold, no sign of melting. It was incredibly sharp. Before the clone could react Leonard drove the tip straight into it's heart. If it wasn't dead before it is now.
Leonard went through the hole on the wall and ran in the direction where bodies were laying around
This must be the doctor's handiwork. The docks must be this way

OOT- Next post I make my escape. The sea will turn into a flaming inferno. I almost want to triple post . Oh yeah I noticed you guys might consider digging underground or something? Just a reminder, I have a plot line that revolves around the sewer system and the city's power plant. Shoot me a message if your interested.

 

Frost and I both headed to the pumping station of this district, she lead the way as i had no clue where it was. We approached a mid-sized building surround by a wall to keep people out. Police and people standing idle by outside. Seems no one is too happy about having their water turned off.
"Shit so many people, how are we going to get in there unnoticed?"
"Numbers could work in our favor this time around.... Take a look around, no one here is happy and the police force is on edge. If we 'convince' some people to start standing up or making a scene more would follow, with any luck we could have a small roit"
"Which you draw more police from their posts inside, i see. But just how do we get this started?"
"Make some 'friends', walk into the groups and do a little talking"
Frost and I split of and enter the different crowds of people. I find it hard to convince these people and slip out to the next. How ever it seems Frost i going from one group to the next, each having a look of wanting to fight after talking, soon one man ran up to them and started yelling
"WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE OUR WATER?! WHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT THE CITY CAN JUST CHOSE WHEN TO HELP US AND WHEN TO FUCK US?!"
A man from the group i am currently in just shakes his head
"Damn fool, yelling at them won't do no good, they are hard on us as it is. We barely have enough Krin to get by"
At this i find where i can start
"Isn't this all the more reason to stand up, after all you already paid for that water did you?"
the man's face seems to twist the the realization of what i said
"They expect you to pay for everything but the shut it off but keep the money? I'd say if you don't stand up now lights could be next, or worse they just take all your money and expect you to still be able to pay for everything.."
I had struck a nerve there as the entire group got furious and joined in with the yelling man, soon after the groups frost got joined, and the more i talked to groups about the money problem the more that got involved. I a few minutes on man yelling turned into a group of 50 to 100 people all wanting their water back. Frost motioned for me to follow her as we left the group and went around the side of the building.

"Okay now that's going time to get in there. Blaze give me a boost into the place"
I nod and stand against the wall cupping my hands as a platform for Frost. She sprinted forward, stepped on my hands and made it to the top of the wall in a single bound. She let her hand down to pull me up. I run and put one foot on the wall then spring up and grab her arm, once high enought my other arm grabs the wall and i pull myself up and over.
"No talk from here on out, keep close and pay attention. Only kill if necessary, a wake of bodies sends a loud meessage and we don't want that"
"Understood"
frost and continue outside of the building but now in the area, a guard passes by. In an instant Frost has him down and choked out, she sets him down out of the way so he can't be seen and also takes a few things from him. Two of which are his pistol and rifle, putting the pistol in her pocket and the rifle sung over her shoulder we continue on into the base. I guess we are the ones stealing weapons for the others...
After several minutes and half a dozen guards being knocked out and looted we arrive at main valve. Frost turns it open and we hear the water rushing in the pipes, seem we have returned everything to normal.
"There, now we need to get out of here. No telling how long that riot out front will last or when these guys will wake up"
"Wait couldn't they just re-seal it? I've got an idea...."
"Blaze don't we don't have time"
"Hang on" I grab the wheel of the valve and push it in. ordinary this would do nothing, but with someone who has control over fire in their hands.... The heated soft metal of the valve was twisted and reshaped into some that wouldn't turn. Effectively making sure the valve was permanently on open.
"Done?'
"Yeah let's go"
We had outside bout to cross over the wall again.
"Check that side make sure no one is there I've got this side"
Nodding i head to the opposite side it's clear, i turn back to make sure Frost side is clear when i heard something awful. The sound of a body hitting the ground, a guard had came around the corner and hit her with the but of his gun. he was now pointing his rifle at her ready to fire. Time in that instant froze, she was well out of my reach nor could i jet step to her if i tried. I had put the last bit of strength i recovered into melting the valve, right now i was almost the same as everyone else.
"FROST" I yell out. reaching for her despite the distant between us In the next instant the man stopped, no he was stopped by.... purple chains. These, these are the same as last time.... no, no, no these are stronger. As if these are the full power of them. I then remembered something from fighting the wolfman, these connected me to him and when i pulled..... I yanked, I yanked with all my might and much to my surprise in a single pull i ripped the man from his own body. He feel over as if dead while the transparent version of him came directly to my hands from the chains. When he came in contact with my hand he vanished and i felt a huge surge of power, as if i was recharge, as if i was over-charged. Frost merely starred at me, not in fear or thanks but seemingly questioning what just happened.
"Come on, we need to go. I'm sure they all just heard me now"
"....Right, I've got his gun now let's get over"
I boost Frost over and jet-step up an over the wall.

Back at the House.......

"Is there anything you would like us to do while they go and do that?"
"Yes, Leah Zach we need to talk to the both of you, it's important"
"I'll watch them you get what we need Echo.."
Echo then walks Leah and Zach out of ear shoot of everyone else
"Now i need the both of you to tell me your side of what happened, Blaze and Frost told us what happened and the misunderstanding. We need to know if they are on our side or not. We need to know who attacked you, who helped their reasoning, anything they told you. As you can tell we don't trust them. Have had too many 'boomerang' hunter, saying that they leave only to continue hunting. We want to make sure this isn't what they are..... Also don't worry, that mind chick won't be able to hear us, Im using a higher pitch Radio Noise. It inteferres with her powers without causing a painful sound"

And at the labs....

Dr Toufin had seen several of the clones had been killed
"Seems no one told them to dodge, will have to fix that. Make evasion of attacks take precedence over attacking. Also..."
He saw how Zenma moved like a boxer like a fighter
"Rather than frontal assaults aim for the tendons and joints, A bull is harmless if it can't move it's feet. If worse comes to worst focus on Leonard, he has no offensive power and would make a good bargaining chip with the doctor"
Thinking for a moment Toufin added one more thing
"Should we start losing too many pull back and let them go, no need to wipe out our first batch in their trial run.... besides Kras will need their help given 235's nature"


OOT: and that's a long post lol

Edit: Ginger be a dumbass and forgot to color

 

Leonard made contact with Zenma at the docks. He was hiding out near the containers.

"I don't suppose you could fight them all doctor?"
"No. These clones are getting smarter the more I fight them. Someone is giving them orders on the fly. I won't be surpirsed if Toufin is in on that."
A thought came to Zenma then
"Have you noticed? Their trying to wear us down so reinforcements from the rest of the labs come down on us. So how have you fared?"
"They mostly ignored me, tried to seal me in the vent system"
"See? They don't see you as much of a threat. I been the one drawing their attention. Maybe we could use that."

They both looked around. The dock area was pretty large. A crane system for transporting containers was deactivated, there were large barrels of petroleum that haven't been stored away yet. Containers littered the area with side insignia's labeled as "highly flammable". There was a fully loaded tanker at sea waiting for the chance to dock. The entire place was an unlit firecracker.
There was only one course of action that could be done in this situation. They had to set this place ablaze.

"I need a distraction so I could man that deck gun" Leonard said.
"So you want me to be the bait? Alright I'll give you 3 minutes to swim towards that ship." Zenma pointed at a nearby body of water
"That's when I will cause a distraction"

"Deal" Leonard went to the water and swam quietly towards the patrol ship. As he pulled up close to the ship he saw guards walk nearby looking out to sea. Leonard dove, hoping no one saw him
You better make your move now doctor!

Leonard heard a crash from under the water. When he surfaced he saw that Zenma set the crane on a crash course to nearby stacked containers. The resulting sound was deafening. The guards hesitated at first. It seemed they weren't too eager to go after Zenma. Zenma continued operating the crane. This time he slammed a container of lab supplies straight into the dock master's office.

"That's right, just stand there like puppets as I smash this place into pieces!"
Apparently the clones had enough of spectating as they cautiously circled around the crane where Zenma was. They were closing the distance around him, planning on attacking all at once.
Leonard used this to climb aboard the ship and man the deck gun. With the guards focus elsewhere he pointed the cannon towards the fuel depot and...

FIRE!

The explosions rocked the docking area. Flaming pieces of shrapnel flew out in all directions. The containers caught fire one after another, Zenma on top of it all laughing like a maniac.
"BURN! BURN THIS PLACE TO HELL!"
The clone soldiers were paralyzed before the intense flames. Some of them focusing on putting out the flames but to no avail. Some fled the scene, their safety an apparent concern. Leonard kept firing the cannon at every target he could see. Every barrel exploded into flames. For good measure he shot the tanker as well. It lit up the night sky in beautiful shades of red and orange. Zenma climbed to the top of the crane, it was a 10 story drop to the sea.

"Come on jump! We got to get the hell out of here!"
The crane buckled, an exploding piece of a container crashing into it's side.
Zenma Jumped

The night sky was engulfed in red. The dock a flaming inferno that could be seen from miles away. The fiery carcass of the sinking tanker rotted slowly away.
Miles out a lone boat made it's way out to the red sea. Two men were laughing at the carnage in their wake.

 

"Now I need the both of you to tell me your side of what happened, Blaze and Frost told us what happened and the misunderstanding. We need to know if they are on our side or not. We need to know who attacked you, who helped their reasoning, anything they told you. As you can tell we don't trust them. Have had too many 'boomerang' hunter, saying that they leave only to continue hunting. We want to make sure this isn't what they are..... Also don't worry, that mind chick won't be able to hear us, Im using a higher pitch Radio Noise. It inteferres with her powers without causing a painful sound"


“Well, it seems that the labs know very well about our escape. So much, in fact, that they are sending out other experiments, who I call hunters, to try and find us and recapture us. Leah and I ran into one. He could absorb our abilities, and then turn them back on us. Then as we were escaping from him, we ran into Locks. He helped us to get back to the base, and get away from the wolfman. Claus then also came, and he told us he wanted revenge on the labs. So the way I figure it, they are allies in that sense.”

“But there is something even worse going on at the labs that I didn’t know about. I hacked into one of the systems, and found three files. One on the wolfman, one on Leah, and one on another man. They are stepping up their game to capture us, and I have a feeling that when Locks went to get Jess and Jet, it set off a firestorm, so more hunters will be coming after us. And then I found another file. It was called Project Throne. I couldn’t hack into this one, so it must be really important to the labs. I don’t know what the lab’s main goals with the experiments are, but I have no doubt that it is bad.” Zach said this, and he was getting the chills just thinking about what the files contained.

 

Once they had told Echo about what they knew, Zach brought Leah into her room, since the stuff he found on the file about her was really only for her ears.

“Leah, I did manage to find some stuff on the file about your past. You do have a brother, but I’m not sure what happened to him. Before you were captured for the experiments, you were in your first year of university, although what you were studying wasn’t mentioned. Your parents also were working class, and your family lived paycheck to paycheck. That was some background stuff I found about you.”

“At this point, I can say that the labs do want to recapture you because of your ability, and they are also going after the wolfman, because he can regenerate. I still haven’t figured out my part in all of this, but I have a feeling that it deals with some of my past. You are the only one I really feel comfortable talking about this to, so I figure I’ll start from my college days.”

“I guess it really started out with my freshman year in college. I had always been interested in how microscopic organisms lived, and how they played a role in our world. My major was of course microbiology. My professor even asked me to be his assistant in setting up for the labs. As I continued down this path, I found out about a process called cell-mediated molecular transformation. Basically, it allows the cells of our body to manipulate their molecular structure, their DNA, and transform it into something completely different.”


“I had asked my professor about this, but he was very secretive about it. He shied away from my questions, even telling me that nothing good could come out of it. My curiosity got the better of me, and I logged onto his files. I discovered that he had been working on this process and discussing it with a friend of his, but he wanted to stop it. The main reason, because in order to actually do this process, you need a catalyst, or trigger, to cause the transformation. It was human blood.”

“I never told my professor about this, but this made me want to study it more, and I wrote a 40 page thesis on the subject. I was in my senior year of university, and I was going to present my findings to the board. And then, I woke up in the labs. I have a feeling that my work may have been used in this process of experiments, and if that is the case, I will stop it.”

“Of course, being with all of you has been an amazing adventure. These abilities have been both a blessing and a curse. And, the best part has been that I...” Zach could feel his heart starting to beat faster “I…I got to meet you. You really do make my day better. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I… I…” Zach started stammering. Damn it, just tell her how you feel you moron! Zach took a deep breath to calm himself, “I really like you a lot. I have developed a crush on you, because you care so much about everyone. I guess your kindness just makes me feel on top of the world. And I will help you find out more about your past, as well as take the labs down.” Zach could feel himself blushing, he was hoping he didn’t embarrass himself too much

 

Lock walked into the house to grab Jess and tell her what he did. Blaze and Frost had gone on their mission, and the others were off talking somewhere.
"Hey Locks."
"Hey."
"They so don't trust us."
"What makes you say that?"
"The fact that no one has spoken to us since the briefing, and the fact that echo has been disrupting my power since we got here."
"Hey Jess can we talk for a sec."
"Yeah sure."
Locks thought over what he was about to say. Chances are she would hate him, but she had to know. Locks looked up at her.
"Back when we were captured by the labs, your dad tried to have me join again. And.... well while escaping..... I killed him."
Jess' face went pale and she teared up a little.
"I mean I know he was a bad guy.... but he was still my dad."
"I know I just wanted to apologize."
"I just need time alone ok."
"Jess..."
"Just leave me alone!"
Locks walked outside and rejoined Jet.
"How did it go?"
"Not 100% sure but I think she might absolutely hates me."
"Welp."
"Look if it makes you feel any better your probably the only actual friend I've ever had."
"Ditto."
Jet looked genuinely surprised.
"You didn't have friends back home?"
"Not unless you count online ones."
Jet let out a heavy sigh.
"My parents were deadbeats. I dropped out of school and got a job to support myself and my little bro. Never really had time for friends."
Locks looked out on the horizon.
"Is it bad that I am enjoying all this."
"What do you mean."
"Back home I was a useless wimp who was picked on. Here I have friends and its the first place I probably remember having any fun."
"I can agree with you on that."

 

Zenma was sleeping in the ship's cabin while Leonard was steering the ship back towards the city. The excitement of the past 24 hours started to wear thin. Leonard was thinking of his next move
Now that the doctor has lost the protection of the labs that means I'm at their mercy as well. It's time I got all the answers from him
For the first time Leonard has met him, the doctor was in close enough proximity to use his power on. But should he do it? It was a dangerous breach of trust, the doctor will no doubt wake up from the experience but what could he possibly do to him now?

Leonard decided against it. Trust was... a fragile commodity during these times. He would have to force the answers out of the doctor the old way. Leonard went to the weapon cabinet and picked up an automatic rifle. Zenma could punch out single shot bullets but he wouldn't be able to survive a barrage.

"ZENMA! Get up! That's enough sleeping, it's time to talk!"
Zenma climbed out of the cabin, the guy looked like a wreak, his fights with the clones taking more out of him then he was letting on earlier.
"Can't you let an old man sleep?"
Leonard pointed the gun at the doctor
"Why? So you could sleep the whole trip to the shore? You won't weasel your way out of my questions this time doctor. It's time for you to tell me what you know"
"If you wanted answers why didn't you just ply it out of my mind?"
"Trust an an important business commodity. I earn more doing it this way"
"Ah. Now I know why you were considered the best candidate for you company. Will you shoot me if I don't?"
Leonard didn't know if he could. He wasn't sure if he needed the doctor anymore. He thought about running away to where the other escapees were last seen. Dare he do so? Then what? Spend the rest of his life on the run? The hell with that. The doctor has a plan, he wanted in on it.

"I can see your not sure yourself Mr. Batista. That's okay, I'll tell you everything"