Lionel flung the door of the chopper open and in the same motion, threw himself at the pilot, landing a haymaker of a punch on the pilot's jaw. The pilot's head snapped back, crashing against the heavy glass of the cockpit. Then, the pilot slumped over the controls.
Lionel righted himself and glanced around the cockpit. In the rear of the copter, were the seven precious packages, each one sleeping quietly. A couple of them looked as though they were in the process of waking up from their drugged slumber. Thank God, Lionel thought. Everyone appears to be okay.
"Are they all right?" A small out-of-breath voice asked from behind him.
Lionel backed out of the compartment and helped Alp take his place.
"They seem fine. I'm going to let you meet your sisters and free them from their bonds while I go round up your brother. Chunk should be along shortly to give you a hand." So saying, Lionel gave Alp a little pat on the cheek. "Take good care of them, Alp."
"Oh, I will, I will." She smiled back at him and added. "Thanks for everything."
Lionel ran to the door and was surprised to find it unlocked. Had Mel left it that way in order to make it easier for him to follow? Was he running into a trap? It hardly mattered. He had to try to stop the boy before he hurt someone else.
Mel had a head start on him, but he wouldn't be moving very fast with that gimpy leg. He'd be able to catch the boy, although he felt a little like a dog chasing a car. He wasn't quite sure what he'd do once he did catch him.
He ran down the stairs using the railing on either side to catch most of his weight so that he could take four and five steps at a time. Which floor would Mel take? Would he try to get all the way to the bottom? Lionel doubted it. The boy was hampered too much by his injury, plus that would only take him farther from his sisters. No, Mel wouldn't give up that easily. As Lionel reached the next floor, he noticed the hydraulic apparatus was still closing it slowly.
This must be where the kid went, Lionel thought. He pushed the door open and peered into the hall. No sign of Mel. He eased into the hall and began the search. Most of the doors along the hall were closed and locked, making the search easier, but there were still plenty of places in which a small boy could hide.
What if he had been clever enough to open the door to this floor but then, had continued down? He could be looking on the wrong floor, Lionel thought. Nothing I can do but search each floor in turn.
He'd almost made a complete circuit, when he found a door to one of the labs ajar. This must be the one, he thought. Careful now. This boy is still very dangerous, and he's scared. Mustn't spook him.
Lionel decided to try talking to him.
"Mel, I know you're in there, and I know you're tired and hurt. I want to help you. Believe me, I'm not here to hurt you."
There was no answer on the other side of the door, but he thought he heard a scuffling sound. He pushed the door open a few more inches.
"Mel, your sisters are all fine. Why don't you come out so we can talk?"
Lionel eased his way into the dimly lit room. It appeared to be a biology lab. Down the middle of the room, ran a long counter stacked with instruments and assorted bottles of reagents. At the end of the counter, were a couple of stainless steel tray stands, like those used for surgical instruments in an operating room.
Lionel picked up the nearest tray. It ought to serve nicely for a diversion, he thought. He crept down the left-hand aisle, stopping occasionally to listen, but the only sound he heard was the faint hum coming from a couple of the instruments.
I'll just toss this tray over there in the corner and see what I scare up, he thought. Just a couple more steps. He was preparing to follow through with his plan, when he heard a soft rustle off to his right. He glanced in the direction of the sound, and there stood Mel on the other side of the counter, watching him.
Lionel tried sounding as nonchalant as possible. "Ah, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if I'd picked the wrong room."
"You did," Mel replied with a sneer. "You would have done a lot better staying on the roof. I'm through playing with you. You're all that stands between me and my little sisters."
"Well, not exactly. There's also the United States government for starters. You see, Mel, they're not going to let you just fly off with your sisters to some desert island. All of you are too important for that. So why don't you just give up this crazy notion of taking your sisters away and come back with me."
As Lionel spoke, he took a couple of steps toward the end of the counter. If he could get to the end, he might be able to rush Mel before he had a chance to retaliate.
"I've had it with you, man. You're not taking me back. As far as I'm concerned, you can burn in hell."
Lionel wasn't sure what it was that warned him. Maybe it was Mel's last sentence about burning. Perhaps he'd noticed a faint blue glow coming from Mel's eyes. Whatever it was, it came just a split second before Mel turned his heat on. Instinctively, Lionel threw the stainless steel tray up in front of him and saved his life.
The beam of energy smacked the tray full force, blistering Lionel's hand. The shiny surface reflected most of the rays back in Mel's direction, striking a gallon jar of acetone sitting on the counter. The explosion threw both of them off their feet. The counter between them partially protected Lionel from the blast, as did the tray that saved his life for a second time.
Instantly, the room was filled with smoke and flames. Dazed by the blast, Lionel crawled towards the door, staying low to avoid as much of the smoke as possible. At the door, he stopped. What about Mel? The boy might still be alive. He crawled back to the counter that divided the room and then, down the right-hand side. As he stared through the smoke and fire, he could just make out Mel lying in a heap on the floor.
The flames had already reached the ceiling tiles that were dropping like flaming incendiary bombs onto the floor below. Lionel started down the isle but had made it only a couple of yards when a large chunk of the ceiling gave way falling only a few feet from him and blocking further passage.
The whole place is going up in flames, Lionel thought as he backed away, shielding his face with the tray he still held. There was no way to get to Mel. Not that it much mattered, he thought. He couldn't imagine the boy surviving such a blast. He'd better get to the roof and see about getting Alp and the rest of the children to safety.
The smoke was getting heavier and had spread into the hallway. Once out of the lab, Lionel stood up and started for the stairs that led to the roof. As he did so, he heard a new explosion as more of the reagents exploded. It wouldn't be long before the fire spread to the roof.
Reaching the stairs, he flung the door open and ran smack into Chunk coming from the other direction.
"What are you doing?" Lionel asked. "We need to get the children off the roof before the fire breaks out."
"What the hell have you done now?" Chunk barked. "Where's the boy?"
"Dead, back in that burning lab. No time to explain. We've got to get to the children."
"What children?" Chunk replied. "There are no children up there."
Lionel pushed around Chunk and started up the stairs. "What do you mean? They're in the helicopter. I left them with Alp."
“That's what I'm trying to tell you, dummy." Chunk grabbed Lionel by the arm and spun him around. "There aren't any children. There isn't any Alp, and there's no helicopter. It took off about five minutes ago."
"But how?" Lionel asked, staring at Chunk in disbelief. "I mean, how could she...?"
"Face it man. The girl conned you. Now let's get the hell out of here before we get ourselves roasted. I've called the National Guard to try to pick them up before they get very far. All we can do now is wait and see."
The two men started down the stairs. In the distance, they could hear the sound of approaching sirens. As they reached the bottom, Lionel turned to Chunk.
"It's been a long day, a real long day."
"You can say that again."
Sympathy
&n
bsp; It took the firemen an hour to get the blaze of the neighboring research lab under control and another two hours to put it out completely. Meanwhile, an unidentified aircraft flying in the vicinity had been reported by the Raleigh-Durham airport to have suddenly disappeared from their radar screens as it traveled in an easterly direction. No one had offered an explanation as to the cause of the lost signal.
Lionel sat in the infirmary grimacing with pain as Bridgette gently wrapped his burned hands with Furacin-soaked gauze.
"This should help until we can get you seen by someone who knows what they're doing," she said and made a face as Lionel winced again. "Do they hurt?"
"Not too bad. I'm just trying to get some sympathy," Lionel replied.
"Oh, she will be happy to give you as much sympathy as you want," Denise said nodding towards Bridgette as she entered the room. "Any word about the children?"
Lionel glanced from Denise to Bridgette and back again. They both looked tired and worn out, much like he felt. It had been a trying day, and especially the last few hours. The protective instincts of the two mothers had turned both of them into dangerous she bears, but Denise had become particularly agitated the more time passed without any word. Lionel had persuaded her to take a Valium to calm her nerves. It seemed to have finally taken effect. At least she wasn’t screaming at everyone.
"No, I'm afraid not. Chunk was in just a few minutes ago. They finally found Franklin tied and gagged a couple of rooms down from yours. He'd fallen asleep. Said he was beginning to enjoy the peace and quiet."
"Oh, the poor dear," Denise said, but from the tone of her voice, Lionel didn’t think she felt particularly sympathetic towards the administrator of Bio Vita Tech at the moment. “Where is he now?”
"They took him home to his wife. I'm sure he'll have some explaining to do as to where he was last night," Lionel said.
“Are you sure there’s nothing we can do about the children?” Denise asked for what felt like the twentieth time. “There must be someone we can call who can help us find them.”
Lionel tried to give her a reassuring smile but failed miserably. He’d been trying to keep a positive attitude especially while around the two women who had devoted so much to taking care of the Kindred. But the truth was, he was also worried sick about them.
“I don’t know what else we can do. Chunk has filed a missing person report and is in regular communication with both the S. B. I. and F. B. I. and knowing Chunk probably several other agencies.”
“It’s just not enough,” Denise said, her anger breaking through the veneer of drug-induced calm. “There must be something we can do.”
“Well, I do have one idea,” Lionel finally said. “It’s not much to go on but…”
“What? What is it?” Denise and Bridgette both asked.
“I’d like to go talk to Flip.” Lionel hesitated. He didn’t want to give the two mothers any false hope, but just maybe…
“I’m sure he wants to see you as well,” Denise said, breaking into his thoughts.
“It’s hard to believe, after all this time, he's finally back with the living."
“I know,” Denise replied, a little calmer now. “He can hardly stop talking. It's like he's trying to make up for lost time. I'm going back up in a few minutes if you want to go with me."
"Sure," Lionel replied. "Chunk did say that, although there’s been no new information about the helicopter, he was able to shine some light on how Alp was able to persuade the pilot to help in the escape."
"What was that?" Bridgette asked as she stifled a yawn.
"Chickowski’s gun is missing."
"That little shit,” Denise said.
“She must have picked it up from the parking lot, and kept it hidden from me all that time,” Lionel continued.
"But where the hell are they?” It was Bridgette this time asking the question with an unmistakable edge to her voice. I might need to give her a Valium next, Lionel thought.
“Surely eight kids can't just disappear, not to mention the helicopter. We’ve got to find them."
The three of them sat in silence; each of them deep in their own thoughts.
“Nine.” Lionel’s one word broke the silence like a crack of thunder.
“What was that?” Denise asked.
“Nine children have disappeared.”Lionel stood up and stretched. "Chunk told me the firemen didn't find any body in the burned out lab. No remains whatsoever."
"But how is that possible?” Denise asked. “What happened to the boy?”
"Well, they said there'd been several more explosions. Evidently, the room was filled with some highly flammable reagents. But they couldn't explain it either."
“I’m afraid we’ve not seen the last of him,” Denise replied. “I’m betting he’ll show up.”
“Yea, like a bad penny,” Bridgette added.
Lionel reached for his jacket on the back of the chair and winced as he tried to pull it on over his bandages.
"Here, let me help you. Honestly, you don't have to be so macho," Bridgette said with a chuckle; the first such sound anyone had heard in hours.
"Me, macho? Hardly. I'll be happy to let you wait on me hand and foot."
"It's about time," Bridgette replied as she took Lionel by the arm and winked at Denise.
"What's that all about?" Lionel asked, noticing the wink.
"Oh, never mind; just girl talk," Denise answered as she took his other arm.
"Let's go see Flip. Maybe it'll take our mind off the children."
"What happens if they don't find them?" Bridgette asked as she put her arm around Denise, and the three started for the door.
“I don’t know,” Lionel replied. “But try not to worry. I’ve a feeling that it'll be impossible for the Kindred not to attract attention eventually.”
"Good point," Denise and Bridgette answered together.
The End
(Or is it? Turn the page for Chapter One of Seeds of a New Power — Book Two of the Kindred Series)
Book 2: Seeds of a New Power
Part 1: Seeking Sanctuary
Escape
Alp took a couple of deeps breaths as she glanced around her father’s sterile hospital room. A vase of cut flowers several days beyond fresh set on the hospital stand next to the bed. On the other side of the bed, framed photographs of several young girls lined the top of the monitoring unit the guard said was necessary to keep the frail man in the bed alive. Alp counted pictures of seven different girls and surmised they must be her half sisters she’d yet to meet. Obviously someone had tried to make her father’s surroundings more inviting despite the fact that he’d been in a coma the last two years. She took a final deep breath then stepped away from the door before letting loose with a blood-curdling scream.
The super-sized security guard stormed through the door, a look of astonishment on his face.
“He’s not breathing!” Alp screamed at him. “I think he’s dead!” She pointed to the still form of her father lying in the bed obediently holding his breath as she’d instructed.
The guard rushed over to Flip MacDougal’s bedside to check his pulse just as Alp had hoped he would. As he did, she slipped behind him and out the door. As she ran down the hall, a vague image flashed in her mind. Something she’d seen earlier while gazing out the hospital window in her father’s room but hadn't fully absorbed. There had been something else, some detail tickling at the edge of her awareness begging for her attention. What was it? Not the two helicopters in the almost vacant parking lot, their rotors still turning, and not even the line of carts being pushed to the waiting choppers. Something else she needed to remember.
Then it hit her. The image of the building across the street flashed clearly in view for only a split second, but it was enough. Someone stood on its roof studying the scene on the ground below, and in that instance she knew that someone could only have been Mel. She was relieved that her twin brother was still alive and hadn’t died in Danville as she had fe
ared. Still, Lionel’s cautionary words still rung in her ears.
Mel isn't on your side -- not really. He's on his side and only his. He'll do whatever is necessary to achieve his purpose. And he won't hesitate to hurt anyone who gets in his way, including you and your sisters.
As Alp ran down the stairs, conflicting thoughts and emotions wrestled each other in her mind — the elation of knowing Mel was alive; not only alive but well enough to...to what? Well, enough to take the children away came the thought, but it wasn't hers. It came from her father, Flip.
He wants to take the children away, Alp. You mustn't let him. He's evil, and he means to use you and your sisters for his own demented purposes. If you go with him, you will always be an outcast. You will be hunted and feared. Don't let him take your sisters! The anguish in the thought tore through Alp.
But Mel is my brother. He's always taken good care of me and protected me from Sarrah. He's not evil! She argued back at her father. You don't know him. Deep down, he cares. He really….
Alp, you know better than that. You've never looked deep within your brother. You've always been afraid of what you might find. Do that before you make up you mind. Look deep within -- deep down to the core of his being. There you will find the answer.
As Alp reached the first floor, she heard several loud blasts. Were those gunshots? But all she could think about was that her sisters were in danger…from many different directions. She didn't know how but she had to find a way to help them. They’d been the small forms on the carts being taken to one of the helicopters. As she ran down the hall of Bio Vita Tech to the rear parking lot she heard someone else fall in step behind her. Without slowing down, she glanced behind her to see Lionel gaining on her. Would he help her save her sisters? He seemed to care for them a great deal. Could he be trusted?
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