The Gathering

Chapter 9

Nineteen minutes later they were deep inside another mountain, wondering why the signal was coming from the other side of a wall.

“Guys look at this” Payton called. They reached his side and found a thin trail of light blood from the entrance of the tunnel leading to the back of the cave. Tommas knelt beside Payton and after removing a glove he dipped his fingers into the blood, raising them to his face so he could sniff it “Rick’s blood. We’re on the right track and close too.”

“How can you tell?” Paul asked him. “Because it’s the right color to be and it’s still warm. At the temperature this place is it would take only less than a minute to cool down.”

“Look” Payton spoke “here’s where it stops.” The group came over to find Payton working at a hole in the cave wall covered in a layer of ice. “There’s a tunnel behind here large enough to get through if you put your arms by your sides and use your feet to push you through. By the thickness of the ice cover it couldn’t have been there longer than ten or fifteen minutes.”

“It must have been Rick” Lance said softly “he’s hiding on the other side. He must have been able to escape that guy and is trying to hide from him.”

“Move away” Johnathon pushed forward, his eyes went vacant for a few seconds then he nodded and said quietly “he is.” There was something else in his eyes though and Lance frowned in worry “what is it Johnathon?”

“You shall see” he said gravely “There IS a cave on the other side, small but useful so prepare. I shall teleport us inside.” The group immediately moved closer to the man, Tommas yanking Payton to their side just as the blinding light flashed. When it cleared they found themselves in a dark cave.

“I can’t see” Payton complained, aware he was the only one without enhanced sight or implants. “Pull up the hood on your suit over your eyes” Lance said and there was something in his voice that made Payton hurry to do so. At first there was black and then everything cleared, he could see as clear as day.

See the figure of an American Indian about forty or forty-five that had Rick trapped in his arms and teeth locked to the boys throat. One hand was gripping long chains bound to the boy’s wrists and the other had his head forcibly to the side. They were about to move forward when Lance stopped them with “that’s not him.”

“What do you mean Lance?”

“That’s not the guy who attacked Rick and then tried to kill me. He was younger, half as young as him.” Lance spoke with a frown they could all see. Steven spoke out though “Who cares Lance, he’s hurting him now. As far as we know he could be one of that guys friends or other slaves.”

Lance frowned but didn’t seem to believe him.

Steven growled something obscene and Lance suddenly rushed forward and tried to pull the two apart before the others could remind him of what had happened to Tommas after he had tried that with the other earlier. The figure’s hand moved in a flash, knocking Lance away and straight into the nearby wall. They heard a dull snap, the man grunted in pain and slid down, unconscious.


Payton rushed to his side and examined him, not noticing Rick’s face turning to look and the pain and panic in his face over ridden by blinding concern and fear. He tried to struggle free and help his father, but the figure only clutched him tighter and dug his teeth deeper into the wound on his neck. And Rick seemed too weak to struggle much longer.

“His wrist is broken and he has a concussion” Payton called out to them “he’ll live, but help Rick before he looses what little he has left.” Steven moved to separate the two when there was a dull explosion and the wall behind them blew apart, showering them with debris. When the dust and dirt cleared seven humanoid figures stood there, hissing and snarling. “Great, now what” Paul growled and Johnathon spoke out “that figure in front, I have sensed him before.”

“Who?” They asked him softly. “Before I was knocked out and inside Richards’ mind twice. He is the one who attacked him.” The figure stepped into the cave room, six other figures following and he looked at them in contempt “so it is you again, and companions. I should have known. You caused my new slave to rebel against me and defy me. He ran here because of you and forced me to chase him” he sounded disgusted “I hate games. Give him to me now and your death will be swift.”

“If we could we would not but it seems HE has got him and he does not seem to want to let him go” Gwin motioned behind her at the older figure with Rick. “Sky” the figure’s top lip peeled back from fanged teeth in a sign of contempt “weak souled asshole who couldn’t kill if his unlife depended on it.”

This made them curious “he’s not one of your men?”

“Of course not!” the figure snarled at him “he has all that power, perhaps the most powerful being in the entire world and he whiles away in here, sleeping! His power is more than any of you weaklings could imagine” he looked at them with malevolence “He could rule the world by now with his abilities. Instead he contents himself with family.” A sudden grin came onto the face “that was until I killed them for him.” They were horrified “if he’s so powerful why hasn’t he killed you for what you did?”

“Foolish mortals, no one can kill me. Besides, I was his last and his only heir. He can’t kill me or no one could replace him should something...unexpected happen to him” he grinned toothily.
“You’re his son?”

“Stupid mortals!” the creature snarled angrily “I just told you I killed his family! He made me as I made your friend!”

“You’re his slave?”
“I’m his heir!” The contempt came back “Idars don’t believe in slaves, only fledglings.”

“Idars?” Johnathon asked him softly. “Do you think your pathetic attempt to distract me will work? Foolish mortals” he turned to look at the others behind him “I want my new slave back. If you have to go through the mortals then kill them for standing in my way. Sky must not have the time to finish or he will belong to him. He is not to be taken from me or you all will suffer for it.”

“Yes master” one hissed and one or two others shuddered and the six moved forward together. “Number sixteen” Steven said and the group nodded, moving out into an open semi-circle around the older creature and Rick. The circle was open enough to allow them room to kick or swing weapons but not enough to let anyone past them.


Steven looked startled as a sword suddenly appeared in his hand as the suit sensed his requirement and the others also found similar weapons in theirs, Johnathon and Gwin with sudden potions they recognized and Paul and Veronica also with smaller and lighter swords. Tommas and Cathrine, those who fought without weapons felt their strength and speed being boosted and all realized why the suits had been specially designed for each of them separately.

Johnathon quickly recovered his shock and looked down at his son, speaking softly and gently to him “you know what to do.”

“Yes father” and the boy lead Peter out to join Payton around Lance protectively. The six snarling figures moved towards the group, breaking up and suddenly running for one of the PADD. Each member fought in such union and as a unit that Payton could only watch in awe, each utilizing their abilities and the suit to keep the figures on the outside of the semi circle, the wall behind them and blocking that way. Yet any injury they inflicted healed almost instantly and any blood-loss made them meaner, making them a lot tougher than they seemed.

They fought for at least ten long minutes, not knowing how to truly stop them yet. That was until something that happened five minutes later. One of the six broke off fighting with Cathrine and Paul and headed for Payton, Lance and the boys. When the creature in the entrance growled at him “where do you think you’re going slave?” he answered with “children Master Hawko. It’s virgin blood.”

“All right but they are mine” even though he still didn’t move. “Yes master” the figure nodded in acceptance. On hearing this Payton rose and moved to protect the boys, saying softly “stay with Lance.”

“We can protect ourselves,” Andrew said, raising his hands for a spell. “Protect Lance” Payton said to them “He’s defenseless.”
“He doesn’t want uncle Lance” Peter pointed out.

“What if he tries for him?” Payton said reasonably “I’ll be defending you both and you’ll be defending yourselves. Who’ll defend Lance?” Andrew hesitated then nodded and lowered his hands slowly, moving with Peter to the unconscious man’s side, which left Payton to face the approaching creature by himself.

He felt the suit working on him, preparing him for the fight and he was surprised by how deep his concentration was, as if the suit knew how hard it was for Payton to utilize his mutant ability and was making it easier for him. The figure stopped in front of him and grinned at him “you look like another useless mortal, human. You and your friends have no idea how to stop us. We are only playing with you all right now.”

“Really?” Payton sounded uninterested, like he had just said the dullest thing he had ever heard “I think appearances are as they seem. You guys don’t know who and what you’re dealing with. Some of us are more than human and it is US who are playing with you.”

“You mean because the boy you want to rescue from us is a mutant?” and when Payton jerked in shock he grinned “oh yes, we know. It’s in his blood” and the figure licked his lips at the memory “tasty. Mutant blood always is. And the added fact he is almost a virgin helps.”


“Almost?” Payton cocked his head at the figure “you can’t almost be one. You either are one or not.” Suddenly his eyes widened nearly all the way and he looked at the boy in shock and sudden realization. His fear of being touched.... Of course! Why hadn’t he realized it before!

“You didn’t know!” the figure laughed. “How did YOU know?” Payton growled at him angrily “you don’t know him.”
“As I said it’s in his blood. When we feed we don’t just taste blood, we taste their mind and soul as well.”

“You don’t know Rick’s soul or mind or you won’t be doing this to him or trying to. What is it that you have to try to hurt him?”

“He’s food, just like you” the figure grinned toothily “and the master wishes another toy to play with.”

Payton was angry at this “food?! I’ll show you what food can do.” He raised both hands and motioned at the figure “come on, try me. I’ll show you what food will do to protect it’s own. Your master should get used to disappointment, he’s not getting Rick back.”

The creature snarled and rushed for Payton, clawed hands out and ready to slash him. When he was close enough Payton grabbed the arm closest to him and in a classic karate move flipped the guy over his shoulder, only purposely swinging him at the last minute so he slammed into a wall.

With a short cry of pain the figure twisted and launched himself back at the man again. Only this time the man disappeared at the last minute, gone into thin air. Stopping short the figure snarled, spinning around and attempting to find him, thinking he had only moved away so fast he hadn’t seen it.

But he truly was gone. The creature in the entrance’s eyes started to glow red and he suddenly snarled, “behind you slave!” A blow brought the creature to the ground from an invisible source and Payton appeared in front of the boys again, grinning “so I’m just food am I.”

The figure snarled and struggled to his feet, the blow to his back having damaged his spine. However Payton didn’t show his shock at this, he had seen worse blows to the others from Steven’s sword and they also had got up and fought on as if nothing was wrong.

The creature snarled angrily, showing teeth and claws as he rushed for the man again. “Idiot” Payton shook his head as he moved aside from the blow and let him hit a wall “during any fight letting you’re anger control you only makes you slip up all the time and makes it easier for the enemy to over power and knock you out. Fool.”

The creature twisted against the wall and snarled “but you can’t hurt me. I can fight forever and you’ll tire. When you do then I’ll get you.”

“With these suits, who says I’ll tire?” The creature snarled again “then we’ll have to get rid of it then” and with a lightening movement he swiped a clawed hand at it, trying to cut it open. Instead he only cried out in pain and pulled back his hand as his claw skidded down a hard surface, breaking it off. “That’s gotta hurt” Payton said smugly.

The creature lost control and snarled loudly, rushing forward again. Only this time when the man went to disappear again the figures eyes flashed red and he snarled “I’ll not fall for that again!” and this time his eyes locked to the man and his clawed hands locked around his wrists. “Damn!” Payton swore softly “you can see in infra-red can’t you. You see my body heat when your eyes glow.”

“Yes!” the figure hissed triumphantly. “Thank you” Payton said and this time he vanished out of the others grip “for you see invisibility isn’t my only ability.”


This time he appeared behind the creature again and hit him in the same spot as before, causing him to yelp loudly in pain. What followed next were very short disappearances by Payton, kind of like short hops here and then suddenly gone and back again. He choose blows around the creatures body while it attempted to figure out what was going on and where he was going to appear next and the boys knew Payton was purposely keeping him confused.

And it was working too, that was until the one in the entrance decided he had had enough of watching and interfered. He rushed forward and grabbed both the figure and Payton, throwing them in opposite directions and towards a wall each at extremely high speed. And the boys knew if Payton hit it would kill him.

That’s when it happened. There was a flash of black from the center of the semi-circle and someone launched themselves out over Paul’s head, heading for the mutant man. Like a pro-catcher he stopped Payton seconds before the wall, twisted around so he was protected from the contact with his own body, dropped him gently and then with a burst of speed was heading for the other figure.

As the five slaves and Protectors watched in awe, Payton sitting on the ground and stunned as he scratched his head in confusion the new figure ceased the slave in mid air and threw him back with the same force straight at the figure of Rick’s attacker who was slowly approaching the boys and Lance.

The figure collided with him, knocking him away from the boys and into another wall. With a snarl the figure threw the other off him and rose. And was faced by the growling older figure, eyes glowing with power and claws ready for a fight with him.

“So” the attacker snarled around his own blood “your distraction worked. Well all you’ve done is changed masters of him. He wouldn’t be different than me” he laughed darkly “Sky is older and more powerful than me. If you even had a slim chance to kill me you have zero of destroying him. Your friend will never be free now” and he laughed again loudly.

“I thought you said this guy believes in a ‘fledgling’ not a slave like you do” Payton said from his spot “I guess that means they care about those they change, unlike you.” The figure snarled and made a slashing gesture and an invisible force knocked Payton into the wall behind him, knocking him out.

The older figure growled louder at this. The figure he had thrown at the attacker rose from his spot and with an unintelligible word he ran for the older creature, claws ready to tear him apart.

The older one stood up straight and calmly set eyes on him, freezing him dead on his spot with the force of his will. As they all watched in shock and horror the figure floated towards him until he was close enough, trapped and not to be able to move so the other could reach out. With a growl the figure punched his fist through the others chest, pulling out his heart.


With horror they watched the organ pound away in his hand, as if unaware they had been separated and the wide terrified eyes of the figure showed he had never expected it, suddenly starting to struggle when he felt the heat growing around him and the older figure.

The Protectors were shocked, how could they hope to beat something that could survive without a heart inside its body?

Suddenly as they watched the heart went up in flames in the older creatures hand, the owner of the burning organ screaming in terror as he watched. When it was but ashes the flames disappeared as quickly as they had appeared and the figure opened his hand, letting the gray flakes fall forlornly onto the floor.

And the owner of the destroyed organ managed one last scream before he too was crumbling to dust in the force, released only when there was only a pile of dust left of it. “The heart” Tommas suddenly said “destroy the heart and you destroy them.” The older figure grinned toothily at the attacker and raised one hand, blowing the dust into his face as if to say “this will be you soon.”

The attacker backed up a few steps from him, eyes wide and said something they couldn’t understand in a language they didn’t understand. “Offen moa theia yentela?! Tama kartz docbi koese louor krimic.” The older figure growled something back in the same language and laughed at him “Sae koese, beatlare.”

The younger one spoke again “Koese krimic. Car carif beeaatla za.” The figure laughed again “Beea leb sae beca tama subsc sae eicara theia. Kar powto oca roto beca subsc sare beeaatla krimic.” And he motioned briefly at Rick who lay curled in a corner, eyes half-open and shaking in what seemed like a fever.

The younger ones eyes set on Rick and said with an angry snarl “slaves kill the boy. He stands between me and what is mine rightly.”

The Protectors wondered what the older had told the other to warrant his sudden change of heart and when one figure moved to attack the barely comprehending boy the older suddenly disappeared and appeared by it’s side, grasping it’s claws hands and swinging it around to face him, snarling “Pos oca umarz! Taam celle crodi thart cei demor posal unel car carif!”

The slave cried out in fear after witnessing the earlier act and sobbed, “forgive me master of my master! I am only obeying the one who allows me to live!”

“Coward!” the younger figure snarled and raising a hand. The figure burst into flames and the younger avoided the blow when the older one threw the burning slave at him, hitting the wall near the boys and exploding to dust. “Get him!” the younger figure snarled at the other slaves but the remaining four slaves only cringed and whimpered in terror, obviously more afraid of the older figure than their master. “Get him or your death at his hands will seem like a pin prick next to what I’ll do to you!”

“Wacch oca kar scawa soosan?” the older figure said in a mocking voice “Carif car taran theia anta theia beea mysap deat altam beeaatla jannsat kehaw tea? Tosa soosan.”

The younger figure growled in rage at whatever the figure had said to him and launched himself at him, the two becoming a mass of claws and fangs as they growled in unison and rolled around together, fighting to overpower the other.

They realized it wasn’t even a fair fight when they heard the older laugh “theia oca contal macep cal, za!” and laughed loudly again, and they realised the figure was so powerful he was merely playing games with him. That was until the younger figure untangled himself and made a move towards Rick.

The laugh instantly dissolved into a loud angry snarl and the older figure hit the younger one, throwing him to the floor opposite the boys and Lance and the fight becoming for real with the older one snarling that line he had before when the slave had tried for the boy “Pos oca umarz!” They could only attempt to follow the fight, which was too fast for them, only knowing what was going on by the level of the snarls and cries of pain. And it seemed the younger one was receiving the brunt of the injuries. The younger one cried out as they fought the same line and added another “Beca car carif beeaatla za!”

“Ghorige!” the older snarled “Beea leb cei bresel. Car mela zeck cei beeaatla genet kehaw kar mattea beca Dvo teen twio cal!!”

“Beeaatla nevja tannkalo!” the younger laughed, to be cut off by a snarl of rage of “TOZARA!” and the younger’s own scream of agony as the older demolished his left arm, crushing every single bone inside it and tearing it almost free of the shoulder.

“Slaves too me!” the younger screamed and the four came to surround him protectively, backing towards the entrance. The youngers parting shot was “I’m not the traitor, Father, you are. Your love told you from the start she knew I was bad through and through but you let your desire for an heir get in the way, let you blind you to your loves truth. In the end it was you who was responsible for her destruction, not me.” The word father was said sarcastically, causing the other to growl louder.

He grinned and licked his lips in what they realized-like the one who had faced Payton, meant he had taken her blood as the younger had earlier taken Rick’s in front of Lance. Then they turned and were gone. Steven rose and moved to the entrance to make sure he was gone before he looked back, suddenly startled and asked softly “are you all right Payton?”

They all looked around to find the man standing, rubbing the back of his head in pain. He managed to grunt out “a little shaky but fine. The suit took the brunt of the blow, I was faking it in the hope I could find a chance to do something.”

“What about Lance? He didn’t hit as hard as you and he’s out.”

“Probably because of the hood” Payton said “it’s part of the suit over my head and protecting it where Lance isn’t wearing one.”

“Then maybe we should all wear the hoods from now on” Gwin said softly “in case something such as this was to happen again.” They all nodded and Tommas called out from Rick’s side, a frown in his voice “Payton come and look at this.”

The man stumbled shakily to his side, grunting in pain when he stumbled and almost fell and soon crouched by the boy’s side and examined him as well. “Do you see what I see?” Tommas asked as he did. “I do” Payton’s voice frowned also “this is amazing.”

“What is it?” the gathered around the two in curiosity, Steven coming over to their side with Lance over one shoulder and the two boys following him.

“Not only is his condition stabilizing but look at the wounds” and he peeled off what was left of the patches for them to see. As they watched the wounds were folding together and healing in front of them, fading away without scars-except for the two small fang marks inside the wounds from the older creature which left only two tiny pin-prick marks on his throat surrounded by two long thin scars from the tears the younger creature had obviously inflicted. Everything else-the claw wounds on his chest and the deep punctures from them on his wrists were gone without a scar.

Not just that but Rick appeared to be sleeping deeply, breathing evenly and regularly. He seemed to be recovering quiet well and except for the scars, claws, wings and fangs he looked almost normal. His deathly pale skin seemed to be darkening slightly to a shade they hadn’t seen on him before but guessed was because for a change he looked one hundred percent healthy instead of what it had been lately with all the blood loss and beatings and lack of much sun.

In fact the shade of his skin reminded them more of Dale then Lance as he was suppose to look, as if more of what he had inherited from Dale was showing now. He looked a little less the cursed blonde and blue and pale than before, as if this guy had somehow brought out Dale’s inherited side where the curse would have stopped that.

“What did you do to him?” Paul looked at the older one in amazement who was crouched next to them with a powerfully protective look in his eyes, as if there to make sure one of them didn’t hurt the boy. “Calla” the figure said, licking his right inner-wrist “pos powm soba mot sooso calla cei sixhi.”

“I’m sorry but we don’t understand you” Payton said.

The older creature hesitated then reached out and took Payton’s hand. As they watched he pulled off the glove carefully and turned it around, stroking the veins in the surface then shaking his head. He let the man go and gave him back his glove and reached out his own right hand, showing them the healing wound there. He ran his claws over the surface veins and this time nodded.

Payton understood “he was unstable before because when that guy attacked and bit him he only passed a fraction of this disease to Rick. He was clouded and weak because it wasn’t properly in his system, as we saw before it was fighting Rick’s immunity for control and making him like he was. He needed a transfusion of this guys’ sort of blood to stabilize it so the disease could overpower the immunity and take over.”

“But doesn’t that make him like those other guys?” Paul asked in concern. The older spoke “taam” and reached out again, touching the mutant man on the chest over his heart and then touching the sleeping boy on the chest as well. When he saw they didn’t understand he pointed to Paul and then Payton and the boy again.

They still didn’t understand and the older figure frowned, trying to think of a way to explain it to them since they couldn’t understand his language. His eyes lit up in sudden thought and he spoke one word “Mutant” imitating the voice of the one Payton had fought, pointed to Paul and said “mortal” and then the sleeping boy, repeating the words and gestures until Payton finally said in understanding slowly “you’re saying Rick’s still a mutant and like Paul and us even though he’s now changed?”

The older figure nodded a few times with a smile.
“How’s he different now than before?” Payton asked him.

The figure reached out and cut Rick’s cheek with a claw, letting them see him heal. He then whipped the blood off his cheek and onto his fingers before placing them inside the boy’s mouth, whipping them on his lips before sucking the remainder off himself. He then made a motion to make them realize he was referring to the way he had destroyed the other earlier and shook his head, pointing to the boy and made various other motions.

Again Payton spoke slowly “Rick can die just like any of us could unlike the others and if he’s injured and has blood straight after-wards he’ll heal quickly like you.”

The figure smiled and nodded again. “What about blood loss again? How will that affect him? The same as it did before?” The figure hesitated, thinking about it and then shrugged. HE didn’t know either. “It must be different for each person” Payton said thoughtfully “what about death? What would happen to him then?”

The older figure frowned as if not liking the idea. “He’d become like those others?” Payton asked in concern and apprehension of it. The figure nodded and then shrugged. “We have to go now” Steven interrupted, looking around “or that guy and his pals might come back.”

“Taam” the older figure shook his head and grinned, swinging his left arm limply and then looking mock angry and pretending to kick something. Payton grinned also, somehow feeling as if he was developing a link with this guy, as if they had something in common “I think he’s saying that guys arm will prevent that. He’ll be off taking his temper out on the slaves in whatever rat hole they call a home.”

“Still let’s get home,” Steven said, “Rick will wake up soon and it may soften the blow of what he’s become if he wakes up in his own bed.” They realized he had a point and stood, Tommas gently lifting the sleeping boy into his arms, careful of the wings wrapped around him. The older figure hesitated in his half-risen position, eyes locked on Tommas as if only just seeing him, an unreadable expression in his eyes and face.

“What is it?” Payton asked but the other didn’t move and he seemed a little confused. “What is wrong?” Payton asked but when the figure didn’t answer or move he tried to think of how to get through. Remembering what the younger one had called him Payton spoke softly “Sky what is it?”

The older’s head snapped to him at the mention of his name, frowned and made a motion they didn’t understand. When they told him so he just made a dismissive gesture and rose properly, following them out of the cave and away. He didn’t seemed at all surprised or confused or even shocked about the jet and sat down in his seat and allowed them to buckle him in and only watched them buckle Rick in another seat, in fact it seemed he was unwilling to allow the boy out of his sight for even a second.

And his face when watching the boy was always protective and possessive.

They got back to center and while Tommas took the boy to his room and Steven took Lance to his Payton lead the older creature to the computer room, to get him identified into C.C. s’ systems so the computer would accept his movements around the center without becoming alert. While the others may have any last doubts about this guy’s good soul Payton was utterly convinced, not just because the creature had saved his life by catching him before but also many other things. Helping Rick for one, hurting the younger for another and other things that had been said and seen and known.

Payton had realized before that the older one had disowned the younger as his heir and placed Rick in that place instead, which was why the younger had told the slaves to kill him. And when the one he had been fighting had mentioned they could pick up things from a persons soul and mind when they tasted their blood.

When the older creature had tasted Rick’s blood he had also tasted the familiar taints of American Indian blood and that had allowed him to easily take the boy as his heir when he probably usually only had taken him as a normal white boy. And before when the boy’s skin darkened Payton knew it wasn’t because of Dale’s side coming out. It was the American Indian blood in him strengthened by the olders’ transfusion.

Rick’s heritage was coming out and Payton had no doubt now that he was to inherit the power from his ancestors. But since Payton could sense incredible power inside this older figure he hoped when it showed the man would immediately be able to help, that’s why he brought him with them to C.C.

To his surprise he saw understanding in the older figures eyes when he looked at him. He knew what he was doing and because he was powerfully protective of the boy, because he had made him his heir he would do all in power and strength to make sure the boy survived a long long time. Payton nodded at the mutual understanding between them and lead the man away to a room of his own.

The man looked around and then shook his head at the mutant man. At first he thought the man was not happy with the room but then he saw the reason in his eyes. ‘I have slept for long enough. I do not need any more.’ Payton shrugged and said “keep it anyway” and lead the man away to show him around the center and all the other rooms-except the other member’s rooms that was.

After a while he noticed something was distracting the older creature, frowning thoughtfully and looking behind him-over his shoulder at Rick’s room. “What is it Sky?” Payton asked him softly, aware that Anna was in the room beside Rick’s and a little worried by the older man’s reaction. The older creature frowned and looked back again, speaking one word he didn’t understand “shakem.”

“I don’t understand Sky.” The creature reached out to wrap long and slim clawed fingers carefully around his wrist and gently tug him behind him as he moved down the hallway. They reached the two doors of Rick’s room and the one he had moved Anna too next door. The older creature frowned thoughtfully at Rick’s door and Payton knew he wanted to go and check on him, but he trusted in the groups ability to now care for him and instead pulled the mutant man into Anna’s room.

He pulled Payton to Anna’s bedside and crouched beside her, eyes glowing as he looked her up and down. And Payton realized he was examining her by her body heat and however other way he could see. The creature finally frowned deeply and looked up at him.

“She’s been unconscious since Rick was attacked by that guy” Payton told him “she hadn’t came out once and it’s been at least half a day. He bit her too” he motioned at the patch on his fiancee throat.

The creature pulled back the patch to examine the wounds closely before Payton could protest. He then looked up at the man mutant and growled softly “Hawko.” And when Payton nodded the creature’s expression showed him he regretted not killing the younger one when he had had the chance.

“It’s not your fault, Sky. You killed those other ones to protect Rick and even though you know that guy betrayed your trust and love for him you still have feelings for him. That’s why you couldn’t kill him like he tried to kill Rick and Anna and then me. I understand. Anna and I have never been able to have children even though we’ve tried extremely hard. In your position I probably would have done the same.”

‘That’s no excuse’ the others eyes said in self-anger ‘I should have done it long ago.’

“Don’t worry about it” Payton placed a hand gently on the creatures shoulder “I’m sure you’ll do it later when you have to. Rick’s you heir now and I can tell you from experience that he’ll prove to you he’s worthy of the faith you place in him. He’s been through too much to be corrupted by power and everything you’ve given him.” Sky nodded without looking at him and winced suddenly at the touch, moving away from his hand. Payton frowned-just like Rick. Could it mean he also...

No, Sky’s desire to move away from him was not to be comforted for what he sees as a worthy worry and absolved of a wrong act as letting the other live to endanger others, not fear as Rick’s was and would be. Of course now that he knew the reason for Rick’s fear of touch he couldn’t blame him.

And by humouring Rick so long with that fear and ‘walking on egg shells’ as Anna would say with him Dale and Lance had unknowingly made it all that much worse. After the event they should have slowly got Rick used to touch again and showed him it all wasn’t bad. But the two had probably thought to do so would make him worse-instead by NOT doing it they had done the complete opposite of what they attempted to do. And in doing so they had ruined his chance of leading a normal teenaged or even male sexual life.

The fact that he had no sex life-especially with Cathrine when they both obviously wanted each other was proof of that. Thinking of Anna brought Payton’s head back down to his fiancees sleeping face. Even in her face he could see that something was wrong, her face spasming in pain even though he had given her a painkiller earlier.

He suddenly realized something and looked at the older creature in shock and surprise “you know what’s wrong with Anna?” The figure nodded and motioned to the wounds then pulled back his top lip, pointing to his fanged teeth and then the wounds again. When Payton grunted to show he didn’t understand the figure placed a finger in his mouth and whipped at the base of the fanged incisors, showing him a finger when he drew it out.

Something clear shone on the tip of a clawed nail, which Payton first thought was saliva. But then he noticed just how thick it was, sitting on the man’s nail as it was slightly slanted instead sliding down like it should.

Payton frowned and murmured thoughtfully “could there be some sort of infection in the actual teeth? Something that sedated her or is doing something to her I can’t see?” At a spur of the minute decision he raised his head and said gently “come with me please Sky.”

The man nodded and rose, following him to the lab where he got the man creature to sit down and use a cotton ball to soak up some of his saliva and the strange gel from his teeth while he returned to his fiancee side to get some blood samples, followed by some of Rick’s on a sudden whim and thought, marveling as the tiny pin-prick disappeared instantly after he removed the needle point from his arm.

He then got down to examining them while the man creature sat by his side and waited patiently, somehow knowing that the end result to this would allow Payton to understand something that was happening.


A few hours later Lance came into the room to find them still there, Payton frowning thoughtfully while he looked into a microscope with the older creature sitting patiently by his side, his expression showing he was all but ready to continue and wait for him, to help anyway he could.

Lance looked angry at the creature, fingering the brace on his arm-put there by Payton earlier to keep him from moving his wrist while his body healed it. It wouldn’t take as long because of the protein drink they had regularly was speeding up their healing process. Payton sighed thoughtfully and looked up to see him, frowning and asking “What is it Lance?”

“Why’s he here with you?!” Lance sounded angry.

“We all told you before. He’s not like the other ones, he healed Rick and saved all our lives-even yours and the boys. He came with us willingly even though he has as much reason to trust us as we do to him.”

“I know what I was told” Lance WAS angry “but that doesn’t change things. He hurt Rick, made him one of these things instead of curing him. He made it worse instead or better. He may have ACTED and LOOKED like he was really helping him but none of you are looking at the long run. As far as everyone is concerned he helped Rick so he’s a good guy.”

“Are you angry because Rick isn’t a normal mutant anymore or that he wants him to be his heir?” Payton frowned at him “are you really concerned for Rick or angry because you couldn’t do it you’re self?” Lance looked even angrier than before “he hurt me.”

“He was trying to help Rick and unfortunately you tried to stop him. He doesn’t know our language so he couldn’t explain what he was doing. Besides, he didn’t have time to stop and explain.”

“Are you defending him because he saved your life or because he helped Rick in the short run” Lance shot back at him. Payton glowed at him angrily but both suddenly noticed the man wasn’t seated next to the mutant man anymore. No, he was now standing beside Lance.

As they watched he reached out to touch Lance’s arm, gently moving the arm up so he could pull off the brace and examine it thoroughly. Before the blond man could speak the other man looked up at him, his eyes showing genuine guilt at having hurt him, then sudden knowledge of something.

He grasped Lance’s arm firmly and his eyes started to glow. The blond man gasped and tried to pull his arm back as his injury began to feel hot and a little painful, afraid by what was suddenly happening.

Payton was away from the bench and heading for them before he could call for help, asking quickly and in a worried tone “what’s going on?!” Lance was about to say, “your new harmless friend is hurting me” when the heat stopped and he was released, pulling his arm away quickly from the other. Payton reached the creatures side as he smiled innocently at Lance and said softly “Cal oca genttal. Thart cal.”

“What is it Sky?” Payton asked him and the creature looked to Lance and raised his own arm, grasping the spot on his which would be just below Lance’s and moved his wrist around, nodding to him to do the same. “I think he wants you to try to move your wrist, Lance” Payton said.

Frowning Lance cautiously copied the gesture and was shocked when it worked without pain or the feel of bones. Payton examined it briefly and said thoughtfully “the break is mended. He must have repaired it with his power as an apology to you Lance for hurting you.”

“Yeah, well” Lance didn’t want to admit it but he also knew it wasn’t his own body to heal it. Instead he settled for acknowledging it to him. It was obviously enough because the creature smiled in understanding and nodded. “What were you doing?” Lance asked him as a change of subject and for now Payton let him have it. “I was looking at some of Rick and Anna’s blood samples as well as Sky’s and his saliva and some sort of thick liquid from his teeth.”

“Why?”

“To find out what exactly is happening to them of course” Payton said “By what I can figure out...” he looked closely at Lance and obviously changed what he was going to say. “What I can figure out is the link between Sky and Rick is allowing him to block out that guys control over him as well as maintain his own mind and soul.”

At Lance’s face he said softly “think of it this way. Imagine Rick’s body is a radio and this guy is a pirate station sending out signals. Before when that guy attacked Rick he was forcing the boy’s mind to tune out of his own signals-the proper radio station and pick up his own signals-meaning Rick was under his control because his body could at one point only pick up this guys signals.

However what Sky has done was adjust Rick’s station so instead he’s only picking up the proper station, his own mind signals.”

When Lance nodded to show he was following Payton went on “now to prevent the guy’s signals coming though again Sky has readjusted his own signals so not only are they the same as Ricks’ but so he can enforce the boy’s own, like blanketing his-a kind of shield of his own thoughts so the other guy can’t get through and interrupt Rick’s again.”

“But doesn’t that mean that this guys own signals are then wrong?” Lance asked thoughtfully.

Payton smiled that the other man was easily following this, Rick must have got at least some of his brains from his father’s side-not just because he was a mutant. “No it’s not. Sky’s mind is unique, like a major radio station he can pick up hundreds of other signals and listen in and interfere if he wishes. Think of it this way-Sky had tuned his radio in to pick up both Rick and his own. While his is the dominant one-the one he hears, he is monitoring Rick and the other guy to know what he’s doing. However mostly he tunes this guy out so he can instead monitor Rick’s state. He’s still sleeping deeply now but Sky says he’s wake up in a few hours. He’s got to adjust fully while he’s asleep to his change.” Lance suddenly looked confused “does that mean he’s thinking like Rick now?”

“Partly I guess he is.”
“What about his change? Can’t he kill this thing inside Rick so he’s normal again? Why did he make it worse?”

“Sky only stabilized the change, he didn’t make it worse. In order to cure Rick the same thing Johnathon said before must happen.” Lance frowned “kill the guy who did it to him?”

Payton nodded “although Sky seems to think only Rick can do that. He insists only the one who was hurt can kill the master and change himself. No one else can do it he says.” “Why not?” Lance frowned deeper.

“I don’t know but I have the feeling he knows what he’s talking about.”

“But Rick couldn’t kill someone!” Lance protested and Payton pointed out “What about Youman.”
“That’s different” Lance winced and Payton asked firmly “How is it different?”
“Rick was possessed then and did it possessed. He didn’t really do it, the Guardian of the sword did using his body.”

“Not according to Rick he didn’t. Sure he admitted the spirit spurred him on but he told us it was all him. He was pissed the guy was going to kill Johnathon and knew he had to do it to free everyone.”

“Rick thinks that. He doesn’t want to admit the spirit used him to kill.”

“Are you so sure about that?” and Payton’s look made him squirm uncomfortably. “Go on” he changed the subject “what else did you find in Sky and Rick’s blood?”

“Well surprisingly Sky and Rick’s blood are similar. I mean his genetic material is still yours or Dales but everything else shows the same as Sky. It’s as if it’s mimicking him to make him stronger and better than before. Sky must have sensed that, that’s why he gave him his own blood so he could use it to strength himself. In fact It seems the mimicking is mutual.”

“What do you mean by that?” Lance frowned again.

“It seems as well as the unusual strength to each cell and organism inside him Sky’s own immunity is suddenly as strong as Ricks. He also became immune to everything Rick is suddenly.”

“Is that possible?” Lance frowned “to develop an instant immunity to everything Rick is?”
Payton was about to say yes it was possible when Sky suddenly spoke “paajt albem theia anta.”
“What Sky?” Payton looked at him in confusion.

The figure put his hand to his chest and shook his head and said that one word he had said to them before “mutant.” Payton looked startled “you can’t be a mutant.”

“Why not Payton?” Lance asked him “it would explain a lot, one of which why he liked Rick enough to help him. He sensed they were alike.”

“What about your American Indian heritage?” Payton asked Lance “he sensed that didn’t he?” Sky said something softly and made a dismissive gesture as if it didn’t matter to him and Payton realized he was again being racist. Sky had liked Rick for Rick. “What about Anna?” Lance asked “why did you get samples of Anna’s blood as well and this guys saliva and whatever that gel was?”

“Well it seems there’s an coagulant in his saliva-to clot the blood after feeding I guess, plus an incredibly strong enzyme that would speed up the healing so much. It’s the similar to the one in his blood-and now in Rick’s.”

“The reason they heal so fast?” Lance asked and Payton nodded. “I guess also to heal the wounds from feeding quick enough to prevent any further blood loss.”


“What about what happened to Rick? His wounds continued to bleed both times after that guy bit him.”

“He didn’t put saliva over the wounds” Payton said, “he must have purposely left it off so he’d bleed to death. All he had to do was run his tongue over the wounds to stop it bleeding but he obviously didn’t.”

“Bastard!” Lance looked angry and Sky nodded in agreement with him. Payton went on “As for the gel from his actual teeth, well that’s different.”

“How so?”

“It seems not only does it contain a powerfully strong version of the virus that makes then as they are but an anti-coagulant as well-to prevent the blood from clotting while feeding. It seems that when they make another-as Sky did-they have to make sure they feed long enough for enough of what blood is left in the body to carry enough of the gel around the body to properly infect them-that guy didn’t even try to do it properly. Any less and the body fights off the virus easily. They have to be at a certain point to take it properly. The virus doesn’t survive long outside the body-so say injecting it into someone’s body wouldn’t do-it has to be fresh straight from the source to another body.”

“Which is why they do it by biting” Lance nodded but Payton just added “it’s part of the reason. You see the virus needs fresh blood regularly to maintain itself, fresh blood straight from the source. THAT’S why they bite to feed. Something like blood transfusions-our way at least-or even taking it from one person and giving it to them wouldn’t work because the minute blood leaves the source it starts to go cold and die. That’s why Sky didn’t take from the slaves, they’re just like him and wouldn’t be as good as say human or mutant blood.”

“What about virgin blood? I mean aren’t virgins suppose to be like their favourite blood. Like you read and see in all those books and movies?”

“Vampires don’t exist Lance. They’re pure fiction.”
“So says you but we had the proof right here in front of us” and Lance motioned at Sky “and he turned Rick into one.”

“Lance vampires are pure fiction. Sky and those other guys are mutated mutants-or Sky and Rick are. But Rick is still normal. Sky assures me that the only difference between Rick now and what he was is-apart from his change in appearance-he’ll be faster and stronger and if he gets a direct blood transfusion after any serious injury he’ll heal as fast as Sky will. Apart from that he’s still the Rick you know and love and he could still be hurt or killed by Zimmer or anything or one else.”

“You mean if he gets hurt he’ll need to drink blood like that other guy.”

Payton sighed and said patiently “Rick isn’t Hawko, Lance, and he never will be. If he was, Sky wouldn’t have trusted him with the strength and power he gave him as his heir. And by heir all that means is if something happens to Sky himself then Rick will get all the power and abilities Sky has got over the last few centuries. And apparently leadership of Sky’s people as well?” he looked at the older creature for confirmation and he nodded.

“People?” Lance froze suddenly “what do you mean by People? There’s more of this guy out there?”

“Apparently yes. It’s Sky’s tribe, the Idars. They’re all like him and more powerful than Hawko and his lot, that guy is an outsider and freak. That’s why he convinced Sky he wanted to be his son and heir, for the power. Only when he had it he killed Sky’s lover Dove and fled the tribe. He’s been using that fact Sky sired him to try and take over the group while Sky was asleep but these guys aren’t biting. Now Rick is the new heir Sky thinks Hawko will try to kill him before he can take Rick to the tribe and get him accepted as one of them. There is also a legend among Sky’s tribe that tells of Rick’s coming to the group. Apparently it’s been around long before Sky was ever born.”

“What legend?” Lance frowned at them; confused that another legend could involve Rick.

“It says someone will come into the tribe with the blood of the source and an rebel outsider. That he will rule the tribe with his heart and soul instead of desires and will eventually be responsible for the tribe being not only freed from their weaknesses but the fear of man. He will lead the world in peace and harmony with every other mortal race.”

“That’s it!” Someone gasped from the doorway “the destiny I’ve sensed in Richard since I met him! That’s what it is! I knew it meant something like that and so did Tieka!!”

They spun to find Cathrine and Tommas in the doorway, both’s face a mirror of shock and realization at having overheard the legend, having realized why they were so pulled to stay with the boy, to help and guide him.

“Tommas?” Lance frowned “what does Cathy mean? I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you get it Lance?” Payton said firmly “the legend is true-both Sky and your families. Rick is going to become not only the leader of Sky’s tribe but the world. Because of this group and your love with and for him he’s going to solve the earth’s problems and spread peace around the world. He’ll be the one of your line to break the curse and inherit all that power-but when that happens we don’t know yet.”

Lance frowned “but that power will kill him!”

“I don’t think so” Payton said thoughtfully “look at it. Because of both Hawko and Sky Rick is stronger and more resilient. Because of his friendship with Johnathon he’ll learn to control it and use it properly. In effect he’s now the ultimate he could be-as you are all trying to be. No more enhancements or implants, no more protein drinks.”

“But what about Sky?” Lance looked at the older creature that was watching them calmly “if Rick rules his tribe what happens to Sky? It’s his people.” The man shrugged at their looks, but there was a spark of something in the dull red cat-eyes that they couldn’t understand, fear?

“What about Anna?” Lance frowned at the man “you said you took samples from her too to examine. If she was bitten and this gel was in the guys teeth why hasn’t she become like Rick?”

“She has” Payton said to their shock “that time she was unconscious was like a state of incubation.”


“I’m fine” came a voice and Anna entered the room behind them “Just a little shaky.” They looked back at Payton and the other in time to see the older creature lick his wrist again, almost self-consciously. “You let him turn Anna into one of these things too!” Lance was horrified with Payton.

“She was turning into one anyway” Payton glared at Lance “if I hadn’t Hawko would have called her to him and lord knows what he would have done to her then. It was let Sky finish the change or risk that guy calling her too him and killing her-making her one of his slaves like the others. This way at least when this guy is destroyed Anna will be free as well as Rick. I did what I had to do.”

“And I understand why he did and forgive him” Anna slid her arms around his neck from the back and snuggled into the side of his head, closing her eyes in a show of utter love and comfort “and I know we can trust Sky completely.”

“How can you tell Anna? How do you know he’s not hiding his plans from us and is going to trick us or overpower us when we least expect it.”

“Because I know Sky-as Rick will when he awakes,” Anna said as she looked up at them.
“How could you know him that well Anna?” Lance asked her.

She frowned “I’m not sure how it happened but when I tasted his blood I felt it as if I was him. I could feel his anger at this guy for all he has done to us and anyone else, as well as himself. I could feel his good soul and desire to make up for the mistake of making this guy as powerful as he is. I felt his grief of his love’s death and the guilt that it was his fault for not believing her over that guy and getting rid of him-for all the lives he’s destroyed because of his mistake. I felt his desire to make up for it all through Rick and a fear that if he doesn’t protect and guide Rick well enough Hawko will get him or worse-he’ll end up like him.”

“How do you know he wasn’t making you think you picked that up so we’d all trust him?”

Payton spoke out “because of something that guy I faced said.”
“What was that?” Lance frowned.

“That when they taste someone’s blood they taste their memories as well as life. Why can’t one of us taste his the same?”

They had no answer for this and Sky suddenly spoke out “Cal oca balb.”
Anna’s head snapped to him and she said softly “are you sure Sky?”

“Moat” and the figure nodded. They were shocked and looked to Anna “you can understand him? How can you understand him when we can’t?”

“We think it’s either somehow Sky passed a knowledge of his language to Anna with his blood or as he talks he passes the thought behind it to her mind which instantly translates because of the link like with Rick” Payton looked at Lance “like a radio translates radio waves into words and sounds.”


“I suppose so” the blond man reluctantly nodded “What did he say?”
“He agreed with Payton” Anna said “to be exact he said it is so.”

“How does he understand US?” Cathrine asked curiously “that explains Anna knowing it, but he knows what we’re saying even if he can’t answer us.”

“I think that’s because of sampling Rick’s blood. After all, Anna can’t speak his only understand it.“
“Makes sense I suppose” Lance said.

“What were you talking about before the legend?” Cathrine asked curiously and the blonde and mutant man recapped what was said and discussed. Cathrine’s next question was “Why virgin blood?”

“What did you say?”
“I said why virgin blood? What’s the difference between say Paul or Lance’s?”

Sky spoke out “kar calla mot tobacca dama twio shanta. Keala twio thof sae cei toomo metta.” When Anna translated they all asked softly “what does he mean by that Payton?”

Payton looked thoughtful for a few minutes then said slowly “I think I understand it now-why virgin blood.”

“Tell us then.”

“When a teenaged boy or girl goes through puberty they experience a sudden powerful surge of hormones and endorphins. Imagine that their blood is filled with this stuff 24-7. When they finally have sex with someone the power of those hormones and such weaken after the drive, need and desire are lessened. That’s why when they are still trying a lot of teenagers boys I mean-turn violent out of frustration.”

“So? What’s that got to do with…?”

“Imagine what a rush that would be, getting all those hormones and endorphin in the blood they drink. It’d be like the difference between wine and water. The added fact that it’s young and healthy would help enhance it-like lacing wine with vitamins.”

“It explains why that guy didn’t finish Anna after bleeding Richard” Tommas said “he was too energized and high to worry about her any longer.”

“And why he didn’t finish Richard himself, he was full after all those hormones and endorphins” Anna added.
Lance frowned “he didn’t kill Rick because he wanted to torture him.”

“That was after-wards” Tommas said “he went into that room meaning to kill Anna for her blood then Rick as a witness. Only after he left them both after the attack because he sensed Johnathon in his mind and knew he had been there and done that, he knew we would come and stop him. Then he obviously thought about it for a few hours and decided Richard would make a good new slave. Only now Sky spoiled that by not only blocking his control over him but completing what he didn’t want to finish and giving Richard back his will and control over himself.” He held Cathy close as she shivered in horror.


“And because Rick is Sky’s new heir” Payton added “it means all that chances he had at becoming as strong and powerful as Sky himself has just gone down the drain. That’s why he’d really want him dead. Rick took his chance at true power and all Sky’s friends at his command away from him.”

“How do you know how powerful this guy really is Payton?” Cathrine asked as she looked at the older creature in fear, hiding behind her father slightly.

Payton was still a little unsure about the girl. The way she acted put her across as a frightened and shy child-but Payton had seen her in battle and knew just how fierce and unhampered she was. She was an innocent, as innocent as the boys Peter and Andrew, yet she was as dark as Rick could be.

“Because of what that guy said not to mention what I and Anna can sense. Remember that guy said he has the power to take over the world without trouble. Both Anna and I have sensed it at times, although only a tiny fraction of his true level. He’s easily more powerful that your friend Johnathon.”

Lance couldn’t believe it.

They looked at Sky to find the man creature was sitting up at attention, face alert and intense. They were about to ask what was wrong when they felt a flash of power in their minds and heard a snarl of rage and pain that quickly disappeared.
Before any of them could speak Sky looked at Payton and said “pos thart sotla.”

Understanding lite Payton’s eyes and he said to them “Hawko again.”
“What do you mean?”

“Over the last hour or so Hawko’s been trying to use his link to Rick through the virus to call him to his side-to kill him I bet.
Every time he tries Sky throws him out and punishes him but he still keeps trying. I have a feeling that if it wasn’t for Sky keeping Rick asleep so he can recover and blocking the link so much then Rick would have gone to him without our knowing and be dead by now.”

“Rick wouldn’t” Lance said softly “he wouldn’t go to this guy willingly.”

“WILLINGLY he wouldn’t” Payton said to the blond man “but the control a guy like Hawko has over his victims is incredible.”

“Why?” Cathrine asked, clutching her father tightly. “I think it’s got to go with the virus and the DNA inside it.”

“Think of DNA as the building blocks of a person’s body. It contains the shared genetic make-up of both parents as well as make-up of your body. Think of the body as the worlds’ most efficient machine, and DNA is the hard drive of the computer. It contains the basic instructions of how to do everything, as well as the ability to access and run everything. Now what if the genetics in the virus was programmed so that when introduced to a new host it would overpower the new DNA and reprogrammed it. One command which is the most powerful-complete obedience to the source.


Those others have already succumbed to his whims and will but because Rick is so used to fighting the wants and desires of others over him he does it by instinct alone. However if Sky wasn’t using HIS DNA to maintain Rick’s own he would have gone back to him long before now. By instinct and no real thought or decision.”

“It’s true” Anna told them “I felt the need and desire to go to him while I slept. If it weren’t for the pain I was in I would have gone too. After Sky gave me his blood I felt weird but normal. I still have a dull ache to go and be near him but I can ignore it and when it gets too strong I feel Sky move around my head for a few minutes then it’s gone. He helps me but seems reluctant to invade my mind and thoughts too far least I take it for an attempt to take over and mistrust him. I could easily stop him helping me if I wanted too.”

“Why don’t you?” Cathrine asked softly. “Why should I? I trust Sky and he’s doing something for no reason other than out of the kindness of his heart as he did for Rick.”

They were unsure about this and Cathrine asked another question “what if something was to happen to him? Who will protect and help Rick and you from succumbing to this guys will then? From following the program in the genetics in the virus inside you?”

“Sky says the power and blood he gave Rick will reinforce his own will should that happen. He’d then be able to do what Sky’s doing to help me himself so that-until Hawko’s destroyed-we’d both be protected. Once Hawko and his slaves are gone we’ll be back to our normal selves again.”

“Why do you have to kill the slaves too?” Cathrine sounded frightened and confused. “Because if even one survives, in all likelihood that one will then make his own slaves then come here to avenge the other’s destruction.” Cathrine looked up at her father who nodded in agreement and added “also if even one version of that virus remains it may be enough to sustain the one inside Rick and Anna.”

“I hadn’t thought of that” Payton frowned.

“What about Sky’s blood and DNA in Rick and Anna?” Cathy asked, “even if Hawko and his slaves are destroyed doesn’t that mean that the virus from Sky will still be there?”

“Sky told us that there isn’t enough for that in their systems. Imagine it takes 1 gram of the gel from their teeth to properly turn-like Anna is now-or they would be fevered as Rick was before. Any less than a ½ gram and the bodies immune system kill it.”

“So?” they asked.

“Now imagine ¾ of that gram are from Hawko. Sky’s is the last ¼ to complete it and balance it so Rick is in control and comprehending.”

“So what you’re saying is once this guy and his slaves are gone the small amount that’s left from Sky will be destroyed by Rick’s own immune system” Tommas said. “What about the legend? If Rick goes back to being a normal mutant how will he complete his destiny?”

“There’s no telling how long it will be until Rick summons the courage to destroy Hawko and the others. Or if he goes back to mutant and then gets his power inherited.”

“Are you calling Rick a coward” Lance glowered at the mutant man angrily.


“Lance calm down” Cathrine gently grasped his arm, her voice soft and becoming a soothing purr “he wasn’t saying that at all. You are worried about Rick and upset by what has happened and that you can’t help him, as you would like too. But you mustn’t take it out on Payton. After all he and Anna are new members of our group and family. Do you want to upset a new member of our little family? Do you want to offend them so they no longer wish to know you-or Rick?”

“No I don’t” lance said softly and looked at the negro couple “I’m sorry Payton. I really don’t mean it.”

“I understand really” he said back, amazed at this turn of events. Cathrine was more that she seemed, more than they had originally thought. She had calmed the human man down and even flattered them at the same time.

That’s when the two fully realized what the girl had just said. Anna froze in shock with her arms draped over her love’s shoulders and finally managed to stutter out “we’re family?”

“Of course” Cathrine smiled at her. “Here you are important. Here you are needed and valued. Here each of us has a certain role-a place and purpose. Zimmer choosing your lab wasn’t coincidence but destiny. Whatever higher being out there exists did it for a reason, so you would both met and get close to Rick and join us.”

“What about Celine?” Anna chocked on the name “what purpose could her death have been?”
“You know the answer to that” Cathrine looked at her calmly “need you ask me that?”
Anna hesitated then nodded reluctantly.

Cathrine was as much an enigma as her father. Nine times out of ten she was a naïve and innocent if overly sensitive child but sometimes-like now-she was an entirely different person.

In fact when Payton and Anna both looked from the girl to her father they realised the truth. She WAS just a naive and innocent overly sensitive child, only now and then she seemed to anticipate or pick up her father’s thoughts without either knowing and express them as if they were her own.

And it seemed that Tommas didn’t care if she did, in fact he seemed to want her to express his thoughts as her own.

What was it with this two? Why did Tommas treat his daughter not only with ‘kid gloves’ but as if she was the only thing in the entire universe that existed? He also seemed extremely reluctant to be away from her-even for short times-minutes even.

How he survived without her in the jungle with his followers while she was with Richard they didn’t know. It wasn’t over protectiveness or any such fatherly emotion that caused this-Payton knew-it was as if the man couldn’t be without her, as if he NEEDED her to go on.

And Cathrine seemed to know it and need him just as much. It was as if Tommas kept Cathrine’s soul and mind in balance somehow and she kept his calm and peaceful, those few times Payton had seen them apart Tommas had seemed to be darker and Cathrine had had absolutely nothing in her eyes. It wasn’t blank like when Lance hid his emotions but as in there was nothing there-no soul-and nothing to see in the first place.

But when they were together that was an entirely different story.

Like without her father Cathrine forgot how to feel, Payton suddenly realized. She must need the deep link between her and her father to maintain all she was and knew. Which meant the man’s mutant mind would be incredible, for he would have to have the ability to not only remember everything from his own life but hers as well. Not just that but be able to constantly memorize both’s and loop it back like an constantly repeating CD in her mind so she could access them and bring what she wanted out at any time.

It would be like seeing your life flash before your eyes twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, not to mention not getting the two’s memories muddled in any way would be an extra effort. But somehow Tommas had programmed his mind to do all that was needed automatically and instinctively, like any other body function-leaving him free for normal functions and experiences during.

It also explained many things.

First how Cathrine occasionally picked up his thoughts without knowing and expressed them as her own. As far as she knew they WERE her own. Second was why at times she had anticipated Him as well as knowing and having experienced things she possibly couldn’t of at her age. Why the two were occasionally physical and emotional mirrors, they were running on the exact same thought and the exact same time.

And why Cathrine seemed blank and empty at times. Why she was overly sensitive, she was feeling twice the same emotion instead of once briefly.

Then there was another thing. It explained how she could heal Tommas so fast as well as know how he was feeling and thinking even when he looked emotionless. She had only to access his thoughts. To heal him she knew his body just as well as her own and had only to concentrate her own healing system into her father some how to aid his own in the work, halving or even cutting the time by a quarter. Which was why she was so exhausted after-wards, forcing her healing into him-heal him then come back to her.

Payton looked at Tommas and realized the mutant man knew what he was thinking in the uncanny way of him. Cathrine looked up at her father for a few seconds, blinked and then looked back to Anna and Lance, obviously being told mentally to stay out and not say anything.