They both heard the unmistakable sound of the door as it slid open. Jericho, released her and ran to the end of the aisle and peeked quickly back up the corridor towards the door they had come through into the warehouse. One by one Guardians entered the warehouse. He turned and quickly ran down the aisle back to Gabrielle.
“They’re here.” He whispered, and waved his hand too indicate that she should follow. They ran to the far end of the aisle, and turned towards the rear of the room and ran quietly down the rear corridor. He could see a doorway ahead, and as he approached, he saw the same type of control panel that was at the entryway on the adjacent wall. He remembered the sequences he had tapped out before, and did so again. Instantly the lights began to flick out. As the last light in the large room went out, he could hear the crunch of broken glass under a Guardian’s feet. Quickly he tapped out the final command, and the door opened. He lunged through and pulled Gabrielle with him. Two steps in, as he turned back to the door he could make out the figures of Guardians as they rounded the corner of the aisle and headed towards them down the corridor. On the other side of the doorway, he looked about excitedly, and then quickly found the simple control panel that controlled the door. The Guardians were almost at the threshold, as he ran his fingers across the keypad. The door slid shut, just as the Guardian in the lead slammed into it. Jericho, quickly jabbed the control panel with his stick and sparks flew in a burst of brightness in the dimly lit passage way. He grabbed Gabrielle’s hand and ran to the end of the passageway and at the next closed door, quickly tapped a series of commands into its control panel. Nothing happened. He tapped at it again, and still nothing. A loud bang came from the door behind them.
“Guess they figured out the controls won’t work now.” He said, and tapped another series of keys on the pad. Nothing happened. Bang after bang began to come from the door behind them and grew louder and more frequent. He tapped on the pad again. Nothing.
“Jericho!” Gabrielle yelled, as she pointed behind her toward the door they had come through. At the edge, a small dot had begun to glow a dull red, and as he watched it became white hot. Sparks began to fly from it into the passageway, as a heavy acrid smoke smell filled the room. He left the control pad, and ran back down the passageway. As he approached, the glowing hole erupted with the tip of a control rod, and barely missed his own hand. He coughed from the acrid smoke, and squinted his eyes to keep them from tearing up. He stepped to the side as another spot began to glow, and then realized that a whole series of spots had begun to glow down the edge of the door. He ran the few steps to the other end of the passage, and as he approached he saw that Gabrielle’s hand hovered over the keypad. Her eyes were closed. He said nothing. A few seconds went by, and he glanced back as he heard another control stick burn through the doors edge. He breathed hard now, as he turned back to Gabrielle. She opened her eyes, and began to type on the keypad. The light turned green, and the door slid open. A Guardian stood on the other side. In one swift motion, Gabrielle knocked aside the control stick held by the Guardian, and planted the one in her own hand firmly under its chin. Sparks still flew as she rushed past it. She withdrew her stick, and quickly keyed a series of codes into the keypad on that side of the door. Jericho leaped through the doorway just as the it slid shut behind him. He bounced off of the still smoldering Guardian as he came through. She smiled, and jammed her stick against the control pad. It exploded in a shower of sparks. The light went out. Wordlessly she ran down the narrow corridor. Mouth open, Jericho followed. At the end of the corridor, they paused, their backs against the wall, and control sticks at the ready.
“It’s hot in here.” Jericho remarked, as a bead of sweat ran down his face. Perspiration had beaded on Gabrielle’s face as well. She quickly peeked around the corner, but saw nothing in the hallway. She went around the corner. As they rounded the corner, even in the dim light, they realized that the wall to the right was not a wall at all. It was lined with shelves that contained tanks.
“More parts?” Jericho asked sarcastically. Gabrielle flattened herself against the opposite wall, with her arms spread. She was afraid to see what may be in the tanks. Then as her eyes continued to adjust to the dim light, she thought she saw something within the tank directly across from her. Some type of movement. As she approached slowly, she turned her head, slowly, this way and that. She struggled to see what was within. When she was but a foot from the tank, she could see the contents clearly. Jericho stepped up beside her, and gazed at it as well. Inside, floated a small object in relative peace. A tiny fetus moved very gently with the flow of the liquid within the tank. A monitor on the top of the tank blinked rapidly in time with its tiny heartbeat.
“What is it?” Gabrielle asked, unsure of what she saw.
“I don’t know.” Jericho answered, and glanced back down the hall.
“Is it?” Gabrielle began. “Is it…one of us?” She finally managed to say. Slowly, she brought her hand up to touch the glass.
“I don’t know, Gabby.” He said, and swallowed. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Her gaze continued across the tiny human, noting its ten little perfect fingers, on the two little perfect hands. The cord that came from its belly led up to the top of the tank. It moved, and though it might have startled her a moment ago, now that movement mesmerized to her. It rolled slightly in the tank, and one of its tiny little hands reached out, as if to touch hers. She held her hand fast to the side of the tank, as a tear ran down her cheek. The hand within the tank touched the glass, and Gabrielle gasped. She could feel something within her being drawn to the creature inside the tank. A feeling of need, and of longing. She felt an overwhelming need to hold and gently caress the tiny creature inside. A feeling so powerful, that she had no explanation for its power. She could feel its heartbeat as if it reverberated within her very soul. She could feel its warmth through the glass her hand rested upon.
“Oh Jericho, what is this place. What is this horrible place?” She asked, as the overwhelming emotion welled up in her voice. He wrapped his arm around her to comfort her. Slowly she let her hand slide down the side of the tank.
“Come on.” He said gently. “We have to go.” She pulled her hand back, and took a deep breath, and with one last glance at the tiny baby, she turned and walked slowly and stoically down the hallway, and intentionally did not look at the other tanks that lined the wall. As they reached the next turn, she hesitated. She stopped and looked back at the tank down the hall. Another tear slid down her cheek. She let her head slump down. Then with a deep breath, she turned and continued around the corner. Soon, after a few more turns, they came to the end of the hallway and faced another door. There was no control panel visible. Jericho approached the door, control stick at the ready, when suddenly it opened, and they were blinded by a bright white light. They both jumped back, and threw themselves against the walls as they squinted in the brightness.
Chapter 21
Immortal Page 20