Casey, who had been dying a moment before, suddenly sat up and laughed. His left hand wiped the blood from his head and pulled the blade from his stomach. In his right hand was miniature injection gun.
It was then that Xiao realized that Heine was pressing a hand against his leg.
His pupil contracted spasmodically as his heart sank, pushing his body into a terrible tremor.
"Casey... What have you done?"
Xiao Yan looked at his old friend with an incredulous expression.
Casey"s innocent cherubic features suddenly widened into a predatory devil"s grin.
"Isn"t your IQ quite high? Can you not figure out what I have done?"
He had injected some type of drug into Heine"s body, but Xiao Yan does not know what the function of the particular agent is.
"Heh! Everyone thought that I was researching the x-2 all this time. Comparing our brain speeds, I am similar to you. How could I not have a breakthrough after so much time? If I were really studying that, wouldn"t I have had similar progress?"
Casey pulled at his blood soaked clothes, seemingly disgusted by the filth.
"What were you studying?" Xiao"s voice broke apart and shook. Everything seemed like a nightmare, a trick of the mind.
Casey had earned his rank based on his cutting edge theory of the x-2 virus, but his project never moved further than his initial proposal. That means he wasn"t working on x-2 at all.
"An accelerator. It causes a ma.s.sive rapid replication of the x-virus. Draining the body"s strength and nutrients a hundredfold. Rest a.s.sured it has been thoroughly tested, thanks to the Shire"s resources and the military"s decision to force independent projects. Otherwise it would have been difficult for me to finish synthesizing it while under close scrutiny. Ah, it looks like Heine is already having difficulty breathing."
Heine"s face gave nothing away, and the fingers gripping his wrist were still locked firmly around him. Yet, Xiao"s heart was filled with a horrible premonition.
"Colonel Burton. You have been holding more than all of my experimental data. Xiao Yan, I advise you to come with me now. Don"t worry, I will protect you. I will not let anyone harm you or touch your brain."
Casey"s mouth lifted in a rather helpless smile. Xiao Yan had not seen such an expression from him for many years.
He removed his stained lab coat and took a clean one from the closet. His movements were paced to give Xiao time to consider his offer.
As Casey changed, Xiao noticed that there was no trace of the wound on his body.
"You...injected yourself with the x virus?"
"I didn"t give it to myself, I was injected with the x virus when I was still an embryo."
Casey turned and gave him a comforting smile, then he stepped closer to Xiao Yan.
"Unlike these special forces who accept the x viruses in adulthood, my fusion with the virus is much stronger. They have only ten years of life, and I have 20 to 30 years after entering adulthood. It doesn"t sound long enough, but with you...I think we can solve this problem together."
"..." Xiao Yan was shocked by Casey"s admission.
As an embryo? So was his mother infected? Such experimentation is forbidden within the Shire, not to mention the instability of the virus within a fetus, the likelihood of survival would be less than 1 in 10,000. What the h.e.l.l was going on?
Xiao insides began to shake, he knew he wasn"t imagining it. Heine"s fingers were growing colder and colder, the strength of his grip was rapidly waning. Heine suddenly stumbled backwards, leaning heavily against the wall, his breathing was so labored it seemed it could stop at any moment.
Xiao Yan did not look back, he stepped in front of Heine, blocking him from Casey.
"Give me... give me an antidote to the accelerator!"
"If I give you the antidote, you will stay with that man and not come with me. I am accustomed to having you by my side. I have spent too much energy planning this air raid to leave without you.
"So all this time the spy lurking about the Shire was you?" Xiao Yan"s brain swirled with thoughts of escape, he struggled to accept the reality of Casey"s ident.i.ty, but he knows that he must remain calm.
It is not just for him, he must protect Heine.
"Actually we don"t like to be referred to as an organization. Compared to the greenhouse of the Shire, we believe you are like a captive lamb. Now you have another choice, come with me and be our lamb."
His green eyes liquefy with temptation, as if he will provide for Xiao Yan a more beautiful world. Casey kneeled down and touched Xiao Yan"s forehead.
"You are very important to me Xiao Yan. Come with me."
"You will open my skull and remove my brain." Xiao"s voice gathers ice as he accepts the reality of Casey"s betrayal. He looks for the best way to escape with Heine.
Casey sighs and shakes his head. "Fool, you are my friend. We can explore the world together, we need your wisdom not just a brain."
f.u.c.k! Xiao suddenly slammed his knee into Casey"s lower abdomen.
Casey looked with widened and shocked eyes as Xiao smashed a fish through his chest. The sound of his sternum breaking rang through the room. Casey fell backward onto the mattress.
It was then that Casey noticed Xiao Yan was holding a small syringe in his hand. He had injected himself with X-2.
Xiao put Heine on his back and ran out.
Casey gritted his teeth and his hands balled up into his fists, his sternum was already crackling as it healed, and his loud voice boomed along the hall. "Xiao Yan! Did you forget about the world outside? Don"t you want to go? The Shire cannot offer you any freedom."
"Put me down." Heine"s spoke into his ear.
His chin rested on Xiao"s shoulder. His face was pale and his normally commanding tone was weakened and strained.
"I will not."
"You will be caught by Casey."
Xiao Yan rushed through the hall and pressed the b.u.t.ton at the end of the pa.s.sage. He was unable to lock down the channel. Casey must have modified the master settings.
At this point, Xiao Yan understands with complete clarity that Casey was the one who tore through his mind that day in the lab.
It was a good thing that Heine had diligently restricted him from talking with Casey about the details of his research, otherwise Casey would have long mastered his project.
He longer has any wayward thoughts or doubts. Casey"s fervent appeal to their friendship, in order to cajole him into coming, incinerates to nothing in his mind.
He is running away.
"If he catches up, I will knock him down."
Xiao eyes were impossibly cold. There was a moment when he had been too stunned by the change in Casey to respond to what was happening. The minute he discovered Heine was injected with the accelerator...that moment had burned all connection between them. Nothing matters but that he has hurt Heine, and for that he won"t forgive him.
Maybe he has been around Heine for too long, even their decisiveness and resolve is similar.
"The x-2 won"t last long."
Xiao smile slightly. "Didn"t I tell you, now it can last for an hour and twenty five minutes."
"But I cannot..."
Xiao eyes deepened as he felt Heine"s cheek sink against his neck, his forehead was beaded in sweat as his metabolism accelerated. He was slipping into a coma. Xiao stopped and set him down.
Heine slid down the wall. Xiao put his ear to his chest and listened for his heartbeat.
"Hurry." The words were squeezed out with great difficulty.
Heine was only able to speak through pure will.
Xiao Yan pulled Heine into a research room.
Casey"s voice echoed eerily through the pa.s.sageway. Xiao Yan could even picture his frustrated face and gnashing teeth. "Xiao Yan, where are you hiding? Did I forget to mention that my companion is waiting at the entrance of the refuge? The faster you run, the sooner you will meet them. There is nowhere to go. No way to escape."
Heine pushed at Xiao"s shoulder. "Go. Even if it is not today, I don"t have much time left."
Xiao Yan brushed the hair from his forehead, the strands were soaked in sweat. "Trust me, you have plenty of time."
He put the solution he had been carrying into his injection gun and released it into Heine"s thigh.
"It may hurt as your body accepts it. You will run a fever, you will be hot...everything will move faster...it will feel like a rebirth."
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Xiao Yan smiled and rested his forehead against Heine"s.
"You always are protecting me. This time, let me protect you,."
Xiao put him in a reaction chamber. Heine used the last of his strength to hold on to Xiao"s wrist.
Casey"s shouting was closing in on their location, he would soon find them.
"Rest a.s.sured that I will not let myself become an enemy of the Shire. I won"t let them take my brain from me. You said that I was a b.u.t.terfly to spark a world of change, but the only thing I wish to change is your fate."
Xiao Yan kissed Heine on the mouth, the contact was brief but heavily infused with an infinite and desperate love. He removed Heine"s gun from his waist and Heine gripped his wrist as hard as he could. Xiao clenched his teeth and hardened his heart. He removed Heine"s hand from him and closed the door to the capsule. Pressing a b.u.t.ton, he watched as the pod lowered, sinking into the floor of the lab.
He left the room and closed the door, continuing further down the hall.
Just as he rounded the corner, an arm slammed against his neck and knocked him back.
"Xiao Yan! I finally found you!"
Casey! He is too familiar with the layout, he was actually able cut off Xiao"s path.
Xiao struggled to breathe as his neck was strangled. He struggled to drag in any air, he slammed his fist against Casey"s shoulders. Casey fell to the floor, dragging Xiao along with him.
As Casey started to get up, Xiao tolled over onto Casey and smashed his elbow against the back of his neck, Casey fell to the side and kneed Xiao in the waist. Xiao went to the ground instantly. He placed a hand on the floor and used it to launch himself at Casey. Casey raised a hand to block, but Xiao"s whole body was engaged in the attack. He slammed Casey against the wall.
His swayed and looked at him with a stunned expression. "b.a.s.t.a.r.d... You used to be so reluctant to harm me, but for Heine Burton you would inflict such pain on me!"
Xiao moved forward once again, slightly splaying his hand to hit Casey"s chin with his palm. If he succeeded in connecting, he could break his neck.
At the last moment, Casey dodged and held Xiao"s arm back to stop him. He did not expect Xiao to continue his trajectory. Instead of breaking away, he leaned forward and his knee crashed into Casey"s side.
"Ah it hurts! Xiao Yan, I never thought about hurting you! Come with me! Here you will only be a political p.a.w.n!"
Casey"s movements grow more rapid and Xiao imagines Heine"s techniques as he matches Casey"s a.s.sault. He antic.i.p.ates Casey"s punch, and lifts his hand to catch it as his knee lifts to break his arm. Xiao knew he had to attack his neck before his arm healed.
"Xiao Yan... don"t..."
Casey looked at him, his liquid turquoise gaze was filled with hurt and despair.
Xiao hesitated briefly and then his expression grew cold.
This guy wants Heine"s life!
The look in Xiao"s eyes grows glacial, but Casey took advantage of the opening he granted and kicked Xiao in the stomach.
"Hm--"
Xiao grunted in pain but didn"t hesitate to turn over and catch Casey"s arm. He could hear the sound of it dislocating. He slowly released his grip, drawing out his healing time.
A dark haired man approached Casey and grinned, "Seems you are having a hard time."
Casey angled his chin and lowered his voice. "Get him. He must come with us today!"
The dark haired man smiled disconcertingly and rushed at Xiao Yan. He stood still, right until he was almost upon him and then Xiao smashed into him, gathering a staggering amount of speed. But the man"s experience is quite rich and he immediately clamps a hand on Xiao"s calf. Xiao uses his grip as a point of leverage and kicks up toward his neck.
The minute he gains freedom, he runs down the hallway. He remembers the days that he and Casey used to run along these channels in jest, those memories now hold a grim darkness in his heart.
"That kid is pretty powerful." He rubbed his wrist. "Much better than you."
Casey glared at the man. "Jerry is this really the time for you to compliment him?"
"Our people are anxiously waiting for him to arrive at the pa.s.sage." Jerry continued walking.
"Who trained him. It is a good thing I have fast reflexes, otherwise my head would have been kicked off by that kid."
"Heine Burton." The resentment smoldering in Casey"s eyes nearly burned to ash.
"No wonder." Jerry took Casey"s hand. "Looks like you are angry that you didn"t ever have a chance to work with the little rookie researcher."
Casey"s batted his hand away. "He is not a rookie! And if I am so bad at fighting it is your fault, since you trained me."
"Too much training and you would have been exposed. It is not normal for researchers to have such abilities."
Xiao Yan ran through the empty pa.s.sages, the dim light in the halls deepens to pitch as he made his way down. Suddenly he saw a glint flicker in the darkness and instinctively ducked.
A blade split the air and slashed at his clothes.
Two men in combat suits emerged.
Casey and Jerry slow down as they approach Xiao Yan from behind.
"You have injected yourself with x-2. Perhaps you would have no problem dealing with four or even forty zombies, but you cannot hope to take out the four of us." Jerry smiled and thoughtfully stroked his chin. "We don"t wish to hurt you, we need you. Come with us. You know of General Renault, do you want to know why he chose to join the Surge?"
"Why?"
As he spoke Xiao slowly retreated toward the wall.
"Immortality." Casey was holding his arm as he looked over at him. He leveled his gaze onto Xiao Yan as though he was looking at an insignificant insect. "We used the comet virus to study a way to grant eternal life."
Xiao Yan was silent, his muscles tightened and his expression was unreadable.
"Join us. Become one of us." Jerry softens his expression. "We really need someone like you. Such an interface rate means that you can complete more research. Look at how far you have come with the x-2, even faster and farther than Casey."
"Hey! I was working on accelerators, remember. The x-2 was just a cover!" Casey was upset at the comparison between him and Xiao Yan. He whined in childish aggravation.
Xiao Yan raised his gun and pressed the muzzle to his own chin. From this angle, the shot will completely penetrate his brain.
At his movement, everyone"s face changed.
"Okay. Alright. Think carefully. Brain damage is irreversible. Do you really want to die?"
"Xiao Yan, brain matter splattering all over is not a pretty picture." Casey spoke through clenched teeth. "Even if you damage your brain, I can still mine information from it. Your action is meaningless. You should search other possibilities. I can give you freedom, a wider s.p.a.ce to roam. I have not lied to you."
"You have done nothing but deceive me, Casey." Xiao Yan"s eyes are extremely cold.
Jerry tried to step forward, but Xiao Yan"s finger flexed against the trigger, "Don"t come closer!"
Jerry stretched out his hands to appease Xiao Yan. "Don"t do anything rash!"
Casey raised his hands and attempted to approach Xiao Yan. "I am not trying to take your brain away. I just want you to work with me. To do research with me. Didn"t you say that you always wanted us to work alongside each other? Aren"t you looking forward to us cooperating? We can change the world Xiao Yan! Don"t throw it all away! Don"t off yourself!"
His logical and emotional appeal doesn"t shake Xiao"s determination in the slightest. He will not leave any room for himself. He won"t let his brain be used to threaten Heine.
"Lt. you have misunderstood. The only reason we took the brains of those low level researchers is that they were only worth as much as their processing speed. You are different, we need you whole. We need your initiative of thought. We won"t take your brain out. You can think freely, about whatever you want. If you just want to think about f.u.c.king all day every day, we won"t interfere."
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth at the man"s vulgar words. He couldn"t stand anything he had to say.
Jerry"s appearance was that of a manipulative child. His attempts to swindle him were not any more sophisticated. "That gun is not very stable, it can go off without you wanting it to. If it accidentally discharges, you won"t even have time to regret your action."
"Jerry you sound like a liar. How is he going to believe that, that looks like a Special Forces gun, how unreliable could it be?" The other killers around him, lower their guns, it appears the greatest threat is that Xiao will end himself.
"Shut up!" Casey looked at him with a chilly expression.
"Then you help me change his mind! If he decided to blow his brains out, he will kill us all!" Jerry"s feigned innocent expression became instantly fierce as he glared at Casey.
Casey thumped his head. "I have already done my part. He will not accept my terms. Xiao Yan, recognize the reality of the situation. Do you think by holding a gun to your head you can puppet us? There is no escape."
"I am not trying to escape." Xiao looked at Casey and smiled broadly. "The research that I am the most proud of is complete. My life"s work...It is finished"
"What do you mean..."
Casey stepped toward him.
Xiao Yan closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.
"Ah!" Blood splatters against the wall take on a sinister pattern, the color was starkly glaring against the light wall.
Everyone stood rooted in place.
Xiao Yan opened his eyes in surprise. It didn"t hurt. He had thought he would at least feel the shot burn through his ear. His thoughts also seemed surprisingly coherent.
"The next time you dare to point a gun at your head, I will show you what real pain is!"
A familiar cold voice pierced his flesh and burrowed into his bones, splitting his heart and knitting it together simultaneously. A sense of trepidation permeated every cell of his body.
Those elegant facial features, his seductive eyes and pale face...
Xiao stood momentarily stunned.
"Jane!" Xiao screamed his name.
When did Jane get here?
Wasn"t he sent to protect the president?
Jane"s hand pressed against the muzzle of the gun, the bullet penetrated his palm, but the wound was already healing.
If Jane is here, perhaps they can take on these guys!
Jane grabbed Xiao"s wrist and squeezed until the pain forced him to drop the gun. Jane took it and bent the metal with his hands, twisting the gun until parts broke off of it and scattered across the floor.
Suddenly Xiao was frightened. He went to retreat but the wall was pressed flush against him.
Jane"s fingers brush against Xiao"s face and his gently sloping slender eyes render his gaze deep and profound.
"Be good and come with me."
Xiao glanced over Jane"s shoulder, noticing that no one from the Surge had made a move against Jane.
After witnessing Casey"s deception, Xiao felt that he couldn"t trust anyone.
He became increasingly frightened and he jammed his elbows into Jane, attempting to escape his hold. Jane easily blocked his attack and turned him into his arms, holding him close.
"Calm down. Calm down. No one is going to hurt you."
Jane grabbed his waist with one hand and with the other he pressed Xiao"s head against his chest.
Xiao attempted to struggle out of his embrace.
"Hey, Boss, be careful, this guy is pretty powerful. He almost cut off my head."
Hearing Jerry refer to Jane as "Boss" nearly collapsed his mind, there was no point thinking more about it.
It was clear Jane was one of them.
"Baby. I am still mad that you pointed a gun at your own head. You realize there are ways to hurt you other than breaking your hands and feet, there is also..."
Jane lifted Xiao up and his hand ran across his body, the smell of his hormones filled the air and his skin reddened slightly in arousal.
"f.u.c.king you."
Jane angles his head lazily to the side, he arched his brow and shot off a charming smile.
Jerry and the other two Surge members laughed. Casey released a relieved sigh at Jane"s arrival.
Xiao lifted his leg and drove a kick hard onto Jane"s knee. Jane slammed him against the wall and his laughing eyes darkened with a deep ferocity.
"I warned you. If you continue to use Heine"s techniques to deal with me, I will kill you! Keep it up if you want to die."
*****I love this chapter. It moves so fast. I didn"t want to leave you too long with such a cliffhanger. I haven"t responded to many comments recently because some of you are a little too clever. So I had to keep mum.******