4.23 It's a Gray Thing

Once she had drained the poison from his veins Quinn leaned weakly on the wall. Her eyes drooped, head hanging weakly to the side. "He's lost a lot of blood," she panted straining to stay awake. The drain of partially healing Charlie on top of maintaining the force field, the beacon along with a hundred other things she had exhausted her energy reserve. Never had she expended so much power in such a short period of time. Even she, a being of almost unlimited power needed to rest.

Zayne carefully picked up the limp unconscious body of the boy who had been willing to give up his life to save Harmony. The dog followed closely at his heels while he carried Charlie into the bedroom. Laying him carefully on the bed he turned to find Millie and the girls crowding in behind him.

"What can we do for him?" Millie asked looking down at the boy.

"Make him comfortable and hope she was successful in getting all the poison" Zayne squeezed her shoulder "if he wakes up and attacks you or otherwise appears threatening knock him out."

"But...."

"Just do it," Zayne barked at her "we can't afford for him to scratch you or something. We don't know where we are or what's happening. It's better to be safe than sorry."

Nodding Millie agreed even if her facial expression showed how much she disliked the idea. "Brie isn't here" she said as Zayne was about to leave the room.

"I know" he kept it at that. He knew Millie was aware if the girl was outside the creatures most assuredly had gotten to her, tearing her to shreds. It was better to let her hope Brie didn't make the transition from their dimension to this one.

He walked over to where Quinn was lying on the floor, slumped against the wall. He moved to help her up. She shoved his hands away muttering "I'm fine."

"Come on" he coaxed "you need to rest. You'll be more comfortable on the couch."

She looked up at him nodding "ok" she mumbled her lips barely forming the simple word.

Zayne stationed himself at the window worried that whatever power source the force field used might overload or vanish altogether. He wanted to be prepared the next time a bunch of mindless mutants attacked them. So far the mutants hadn't gotten through. The force field sizzled when one of them pumped into it but it held. As the day turned to night the red eyes glowed in the dark. He was glad the girls were with their mother. This was enough to give him nightmares.

***

Caleb came home to a dark empty house. Chase and his family had left for Oasis Landing to begin the girls training in time keeping. Drew and Emmaline were in Isla Paradiso having fun he hoped. He hoped his little girl would come back a changed person or at least a happier person. He hoped with each passing day the boys would to home when he arrived. Tonight was no different as he entered the silent house.

Closing the door he turned to find a white haired man standing, arms crossed in front of him "they're not coming back."

"Who are you?" he demanded backing towards the door.

"She lied to you," the man continued "she had no intention of bringing them home."

"She will" Caleb clung to Quinn's promise like a life preserver.

The man's laughter filled the room "you poor deluded fool. She only wanted your word. Your agreement to terms to take your children and grandchildren from you."

Shaking Caleb pressed his back against the door. He could feel the door knob pressing into the small of his back. He could hear the malice in the man's voice. "Renege on your promise and I'll bring  your son home," the man said "she can't do it or they'd be here by now."

Shaking his Caleb shouted "I won't. I gave my word. Quinn brought my daughter home. She'll bring my son back too."

"You're an idiot" the man hissed "she has what she wants. You'll never see those boys again."

"I don't believe you" Caleb shouted "she'll bring them home. I don't know how or when but she will."

"How can you have so much faith?" the man growled taking a menacing step forward "what has done for you besides trick you into believing she brought your daughter home?"

"I could ask the same of you?" Caleb shot back "you come here with threats and accusations but no proof. I'll keep my word and hope I wasn't wrong than trust in you."

"You'll regret this" the man snarled before disappearing leaving Caleb more confused then before. Who should he believe? Quinn or this loud mouthed angry white haired male who didn't even say his name? He had to stick with his gut. His instinct was telling him to trust Quinn. There was something about her that said he could trust her despite his reluctance to commit to her terms.

It wasn't so much the terms that bothered him. If it were him having to travel through time no problem. He had to commit one of his grandchildren into doing it. How was he supposed to know they would want to do that? This nameless man screamed hostility not only towards himself but towards Quinn. There was something about him that he didn't like. Didn't trust.

***

Emmaline smiled up at her mom "thanks for not giving up on me." She looked out at the rolling ocean "I was so lost."

"I know sweetie" Drew squeezed her hand before leaving to check the navigation gauge "are you reading to go home?" she asked sitting down again beside her daughter.

Nodding she had a worried look in her green eyes "mom when do you think the boys will come home?"

"I don't know," she said biting her bottom lip.

"Do you think they could be home already?" she asked.

"Your dad would have called to let us know" Drew said wishing she didn't have to burst her sudden excitement.

"Let's go scuba diving" Drew said attempting to distract Emmaline's thoughts from the boys.

"Ok" Emmaline mumbled following her mom. As they put on their gear she turned to her mom with a grin "maybe this time we'll find some sunken treasure or maybe even a mermaid."

***

"Indira is that you?" a familiar voice said from behind her. Groaning slightly Indira turned to face the bubbly girl she hadn't seen since freshmen year.

"Sheree it's been a while" she plastered on a fake toothy grin on her face enduring the hug the girll insisted on giving her "how are you?" they asked at once.

"Good" they answered together "how's Andrew?" Sheree asked looking around as if hoping to see him hanging around.

"Why do you want to know?" Indira bristled "you dumped him remember?"

"I did than he never came back to school," Sheree glanced towards a handsome dark haired young man standing nearby "I wanted to make sure he's ok."

"You should have thought of that before you dumped him" Indira scowled "it's none of you business how my brother is doing."

"I thought we were friends. At least we used to be" Sheree murmured moving towards the male.

Eyeing them Indira asked "is this why you dumped my brother? You wanted him instead?"

Sheree's eyes widened in shock "no of course not. We hadn't even met yet. You know why I broke things off as well as I do."

"You broke his heart" Indira accused wanting to hurt this girl for having what she wanted. A good looking guy on her arm. She ignored the little voice in her head telling her she could have had Randy if she had done things differently.

"I sincerely doubt that" Sheree shook her head dismissing the idea "his heart was already broken before we started dating. Did he ever reconnect with Charlie?"

Indira's stomach twisted as if Sheree had twisted a knife inside her "of course he did. They were best friends after all."

"More than friends if I recall," Sheree said with a gentle smile.

"Are you implying me brother is gay?" Indira demanded.

Nodding sadly Sheree turned to her boyfriend "we should be going" they turned to walk away "I'll see you around."

"you didn't answer my question" Indira persisted "is that what everyone believes? That my brother is gay?"

Stopping Sheree nodded "you're the only one in denial. Your the only one who has a problem with it."

Silently Indira stared after Sheree as she walked away. Indira wanted to demand what that guy had that her brother didn't. She didn't quite understand why she was the only who could see the problem with her brother being gay. She assumed others had problems with it too. Her brother was weak. He couldn't handle rejection or being bullied. Being gay meant having to be strong to stand out as different. One cross word had Andrew crumpling on the ground crying. Why couldn't people see she just wanted to protect him from getting hurt?

***

The behemoth came to his cell regularly after that. Sometimes he would grope Andrew with his huge paw like hands. Other times he would simply stare and grunt at him eyes glazed over. Each day that passed Andrew grew more and more despondent. He was the source of ridicule and hate from the over crowded cage of humans kept like cattle for the slaughter. The women in the nearby cells looked at him with pity in their eyes.

Each night he prayed would be his last. Had Quinn forgotten about him? Her promise? Had she abandoned him? Was the beacon working? Did he damage it somehow? The one bright spot in his life was the little girl he shared the cell with. She had a beautiful voice. She sang to her rag doll all day. She clung to him whenever a mutant walked past or a human screamed profanities at them. He wished he knew her name. Where she had come from. Who or where her parents were.

The nights were long and lonely. He'd dream he was home with Charlie. Sometimes the dreams were so real he could feel Charlie's arms around him. A comforting weight. A loving embrace.

He had been inside the cage so long the stench of the blanket no longer bothered him over the stench of his own unwashed body. He tried his best to stay clean but with no running water there was little he could do. He knew he smelled as bad or worse than an outhouse on a sweltering summer's day.

***

He woke up to an insistent hand patting his shoulder. Opening his eyes he was met by the sad solemn eyes of the little girl inside his cell. The next thing he became aware of was the hard wood floor beneath him. Where was he? He jerked up from his prone position to find himself in the tiny house he shared with Charlie. How did he get there? His nose sniffed the air but was rebuffed by his own stench he had become nose blind to. He staggered to his feet a hand pressed to his side as a sharp pain shot through his mid section taking his breath away.

"Who are you?" a man's deep voice demanded.

Looking up Andrew blinked in disbelief "Zayne?"

"Andrew?" the man asked letting the iron bar fall to his side "you must be Andrew. Charlie said he was expecting you to come back."

"Charlie? Is he here?" Andrew asked ignoring the pain best he could.

"Yeah. He's still recovering" at the look on Andrew's face Zayne was quick to add "he's fine. Nothing to worry about."

"Recovering from what?" Andrew demanded moving towards the bedroom door

"A mutant mauled him" Zayne explained putting a restraining hand on the boys shoulder "he's resting. You can see him later."

"Argh" Andrew cried clutching his swollen mid section. Breathing rapidly he leaned on the wall. This couldn't be happening he thought. It wasn't time.

Zayne looked down to find what was tugging at his pants "Brie?"he cried. He had given up hope of ever seeing the little girl again.

"Help" she pointed towards Andrew "help please."

Turning his attention to where the little girl was pointing he took in the young man's appearance. The disheveled hair, the swollen mid section, the grunting cries of pain, panting rapid breaths. "Are you in labor?" he asked in shock.

"I think ...uh" his voice caught in his throat as another contraction hit. "I'm in labor" he finished speaking as a gush of wetness pushed it's way out and down his legs. Distantly his mind watched what was happening while another part of his mind screamed in pain in fear at the imminent arrival of his baby. The realization that he was still here where mutants wanted to eat you and humans were nothing more than animals left him feeling hopeless.

***

Helping the boy to the couch Zayne went to the room where his wife was watching over the injured boy. Whispering in her ear he asked her to come with him.

"What do you mean he's pregnant?" she demanded.

"See for yourself" he pointed towards Andrew "he's definitely in labor."

"This can't be happening" she shook her head "men don't get pregnant."

"What about your father?" he asked earning himself a scowl.

"That's different. It was magic" she said.

"How do you know this isn't magic?" he asked.

"I...don't" she sighed compassion for the young man struggling on the couch took over "he needs a doctor."

"I don't think that's an option," Zayne said "can't you deliver the baby?"

"How am I supposed to do that?" she demanded hands on hips "I don't even know the spell my Grandfather Lucas performed on my dad to get him pregnant much less how remember how I was born." Pointing at Andrew "where exactly would the baby come out?"

"It would..." he paused shaking his head "I don't know." Running a trembling hand through his hair he muttered "there has be a way."

"Obviously" Millie rolled her eyes at her husband. She loved him dearly but sometimes his simplistic way of thinking was more irritating then helpful. She watched as Brie went over to the couch patting the young man's sweaty face.

"Help please" she said looking up her eyes pleading for them to help her friend.

"Where did she come from?" Millie asked happy Brie was there. That she still had that small tie to her sister Charlotte.

"Evidently she was with him all this time" Zayne said "she showed up at the same time he did."

"Is this Andrew?" Millie asked. She smiled when Zayne nodded. Charlie in his delirium had kept asking for him. Declaring his undying love and devotion to him. The mention of her father and magic had been niggling at her brain. Maybe she could use her magical know how to deliver the baby. She snapped her fingers as a half remembered spell came to mind "I can magic the baby out" she announced to the room in triumph as the spell solidified in her mind.

"Can you do that?" Zayne asked in surprise.

"I think so" she shrugged "we have to do something or both of them are going to die."

Several minutes later Millie was still working on perfecting the spell when Andrew cried out, arching in pain before falling back on the couch, eyes rolling to the back of his head. Zayne pressed against his neck checking for a pulse "he's alive....barely. You better hurry."

Nodding Millie mustered all she had to cast the spell she needed to deliver the baby. Zayne stood ready to catch the baby once it appeared. It's tiny cry filled the room as it filled its lungs with air. To Millie it was music to her ears.

Andrew stirred opening his eyes. Zayne smiled laying a small hastily wrapped baby on his chest. "It's a boy" he announced.

Andrew gazed into his son's eyes "hey little one I'm your daddy" he held a finger out watching in amazement as the baby's tiny fingers wrapped around his finger.

Everyone looked up as Charlie shuffled from the bedroom awakened by the baby's cries. "Andy" he choked not believing his eyes "how? When?" His eyes were drawn to the tiny bundle in Andrew's arms "is that?"

Millie put an arm around him before he could fall. Helping him to the couch she watched as the dropped to his knees beside the couch. His eyes were transfixed on his son "he's beautiful."

No one noticed at Harmony approached the couple intent on seeing the baby "what's his name?" she asked.

Charlie glanced at Andrew who nodded "his name is Gabriel Bennett Gray."

"Gabriel?" the girl asked sounding surprised "that's daddy's middle name."

Charlie looked up "is it?" he asked.

Zayne nodded in confirmation wrapping an arm around his wife who had suddenly become quiet. He could guess what she was thinking. Gray. It would explain why they were in the situation they were in. Grays seemed to always be in one sticky situation after another.

4.22 Good Intentions

"Who are you?" Quinn demanded of the woman standing within her haven.

Turning the woman eyed her up and down before relaxing enough to offer Quinn a smile "my name is irrelevant..."

"Not if I say it isn't" Quinn approached her visitor "what dimension are you from?"

"Tsk tsk so many questions" the woman shrugged "I am Irina Zohn dimension watcher. Five dimensions to the right of yours."

Nodding Quinn filed the information away. "Why are you here?" she demanded "it isn't common for dimension watchers to stray so far over."

"I need your help," Irina said without preamble

"No" Quinn shook her head "my dimension has enough problems."

"Please I have one family left to relocate..."

"Tell me why" Quinn demanded crossing her arms.

"They are Grays" she said it as if that was all the explanation required "I wasn't able to save all of them. Only a small remnant of the family survived."

"What do you expect me to do with them?" Quinn asked. She knew she would give the family refuge. What else could she do? Let them perish?

"They're Gray's they can be useful" Irina said confidently "if I'm able to neutralize the threat to my dimension I'll come back for them."

"If you don't?" Quinn asked.

"Then I will have failed" a profound sadness swept through the woman "if I fail my dimension will be gone."

Nodding Quinn felt a shiver sweep through her like the touch of an old crone foretelling her future "send them. I will find a place for them."

"Thank you" Irina nodded before turning to leave.

"I hope you find a solution to your problem" Quinn called after her.

"So do I" she shook her head at Quinn "I wish you luck." With that she turned and was gone.

***

Charlie had been trying to sleep in the all too empty bed for hours. He missed Andrew's presence beside him. It still shocked him how quickly he became accustomed to having Andrew beside him while he slept. The  dog growled jumping up from it's spot on the floor. Snarling at the door that led into the small living room beyond.

"Shh" Charlie hissed causing the dog to whine in protest. Grabbing a metal pipe he kept beside his pillow he opened the door a crack. Then closed it just as quickly. People were milling around his home. His home? The thought would have been comical if it weren't so deadly serious.

How did they get in here? Did Quinn remove the force field? Then why wasn't Andrew with them? He opened the door a crank observing the strangers. Two little kids both girls one with dark hair the other with pink hair. The adults must be their parents. The man looked familiar, like he had seen him before.

When the man turned it was if Charlie had been kicked in the stomach by a mule. "Dad?" he murmured closing his eyes as if he were dreaming or hallucinating. He counted to ten hoping he was just imagining things. Heart pounding loud in his ears he looked through the crack into the other room. Shock swept through him when his dad's doppelganger forced the his way into his room.

"Where the hell are we?" Zayne demanded. Upon closer scrutiny he found the boy cowering on the floor in front of him shocked he mumbled "Charlie?" his voice small almost fearful.

Charlie scrambled to into a corner covering his face with his hands. "This can't be happening" he muttered over and over again.

Zayne took a step forward determined to get answers "where are we?" he demanded his voice rising. His eyes told him the young man before him was the son he had from a previous life another dimension. He heard the chatter of his girls behind him that strengthened his resolve to get answers from the only source he had. He had to protect his wife, his daughters, his family. He couldn't afford to let this boys appearance distract him.

"I don't know," Charlie cried cringing before his father. His breathing was shallow as he wished with all his might that Andrew would appear.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Zayne shouted "this is your home isn't?"

Shaking his head Charlie could hear the interrogative tone in the mans' voice. Familiar to the one his dad always used on him when he wanted to know where he had been the few times Charlie had snuck out of the house. How could he make this man understand that he had no idea where he was, when he was or even how to get home? All he had was the word of a green tinged woman that trapped him here against his will.

"Daddy" a shrill cry from the living room had both men jumping to their feet.

Instinct had Charlie grabbing the forgotten lead pipe as he ran past his dad's clone. Something was wrong Charlie thought as several mutants were circling around a dark haired girl. "Run for the house" Charlie screamed at  her as he hit the nearest mutant in the head. From the corner of his eye he could see her hesitate for a split second before turning screaming towards the house.

The creatures kept coming, mindless drones intent on feeding. Charlie had seen mutants he thought had fought with intelligence. Others he thought were more zombie then alive. These mutants were of the zombie variety. They'd keep coming as long as they sensed a new food source.

He bumped into something pivoting quickly ready to strike he found it was his dad. The momentary distraction was all it took. Searing pain as his flesh was being torn from his arms had him screaming in agony. Dimly he was aware of his dad fighting the creature off before he fainted on the ground.

***

The clanging on the metal bars woke Andrew early the following morning. He moaned aloud disappointment swamped him. The little girl stared up at him her eyes round with fear as she clung to the filthy rag doll. "I wish I knew your name," Andrew mumbled to himself. He leaned against the the wall where he buried the beacon. The over crowded cage of human captives was in turmoil. Frantic high pitched screams bounced off the cell walls. Someone was being dragged to his death. The mutants were having soup tonight Andrew thought callously.

That shocked him from his lethargy. Was he becoming as emotionless as the other progenitors he had seen caged when he was brought to his cage? The idea frightened him sending his heart racing. Intellectually he understood it was a defense mechanism. Shut off the emotions become numb so that it didn't hurt as much.Why had he been given the responsibility of this frightened little girl? Why not one of the other caged progenitors? Were they so far gone they couldn't care for a child? Was that his future?

Awareness of his surroundings had him crawling towards the tray that had been delivered. When? He didn't know. Probably in his sleep. "Hey little one are you hungry?" he asked keeping his voice low gentle. He held a piece of bread out to her smiling. Her small fingers touched his skin as she took the morsel from him.

Andrew nibbled on the root vegetables and bread. His mind wandered to where Quinn was. Surely by now she could tell the beacon has been activated. What was taking her so long to uphold her end of the bargain?

***

Emmaline's eyes darted through the crowd breathing rapidly. She clung to her mother's hand as they made their way through the crowded beach. Stopping abruptly Emmaline closed her eyes "I can't I..." she shook her head letting the crowd surge past her.

Turning in concern Drew pulled her daughter to the side letting the line go by them. "What's wrong?" she asked her voice urgent at the sight of Emmaline's pale face.

"I can't I'm sorry," Emmaline panted.

"There's nothing to be sorry for" Drew told her "we'll sit here until the crowd dissipates. Then we'll go back to the houseboat."

"Don't you you want..." Emmaline let her voice fade.

"Shh" Drew soothed "I don't want to do anything that gives you this much anxiety. Why didn't you tell me before it got this bad?"

Looking down fiddling with her fingers Emmaline sighed "I wanted just this once"she shrugged "I wanted to be normal just this once. Just for today."

"Oh sweetie" Drew pulled her close "it'll get better. Not all at once. But better."

"You wanted to go to the beach" Emmaline said her voice taking on a distinct whine "you wanted to go shopping."

"Those things can wait," Drew assured her.

"I'm ruining everything" Emmaline wailed sobbing into her mother's shoulder heedless of the curious looks of passerby's.

When the crowds died down Drew took her daughter's hand "come on sweetheart let's go. We'll have our own beach party on the boat." She tried to sound upbeat. They passed a sign announcing a surfing competition taking place that afternoon the beach they tried to enter. "That explains why there was such a large crowd" Drew said laughing softly "I wonder how we could have missed that sign?"

"Something must have been in front of it," Emmaline said averting her eyes. She was sure she would have noticed it. She noticed everything. The awful scent of cologne someone bathed in. The floral scent of the elderly woman a few feet behind them. The nasally obnoxious sound of the man in front of them complaining at how slow the line was moving. Everything. It was like a constant assault to her senses. The months she had spent in the future had honed her senses. What was once a survival mechanism was now a detriment.

She thought they'd never make it back to the boat. Drew was all but carrying her as she was overcome by the abundance of stimuli bombarding her. The sounds of vehicles driving past, the engines, horns blaring and stereos blasting their tunes had her head throbbing. "Mommy are we almost their?" she whined feeling faint.

"Almost sweetie" Drew assured her straining under her daughter's weight "I'm sorry sweetie I shouldn't have brought you here."

"It's ok mommy. I wanted to to come," Emmaline gave her a smile a slim reminder of the girl she once was "it would have been fun to see a surfing competition."

***

Setting her book bag down Indira stared straight ahead at the professor unconcerned by the whispers her presence generated. Who cared if everyone thought she was a bitch? She didn't that's for sure.

Silence fell on the class room as the professor handed back their assignments. She waited expectantly for her paper. She was quite proud of her argument on the pros and cons of ethics and morals in business. She had worked hours researching her points, re-writing her paper until she could practically recite it verbatim.

Frowning she watched the professor return to his podium. Why hadn't he given her paper back?

"Overall your papers were very well written" the professor addressed the classroom. Before she could raise her hand to ask for her paper he continued "most of  you have long prosperous years ahead of you. Some of you should look for a new vocation." He paused a moment to let his words sink in "a few of you should reevaluate your goals and humanity. Your papers were chilling to read to say the least. I pity anyone who would be unlucky enough to work for you."

He looked straight at Indira as he continued speaking "your business ethics are straight from the dark ages or some third world sweat shop."

Indira's chin jerked up as the students erupted into gales of laughter. Stiffly she stood from her seat as the classroom emptied. Walking up to the professor she held her  hand out "my paper please."

He lifted it from the top of papers on his desk. Stared at it a moment before handing it to her. "you have a firm grasp of the material" he began as she stare at her grade "but with your lack of ethics and moral understanding no one in their right mind will ever work for or with you."

"You failed me" she said her voice little more than a whisper "I worked hard on this paper."

"Yes I can see that" he shook his head as her gaze turned from disbelief to rage.

"My arguments were sound..."

"Business is more than numbers and profit," he explained "it's people. If you alienate the people" he sighed picking up his brief case "no one will buy your product or service."

She lifted hurt and confused eyes towards him "I don't understand" she murmured. She felt like everything she had been working for had been snatched out from beneath her. Dangling just out of reach from her outstretched arms.

"You need to have compassion," the professor advised. There was one in every class that thought squashing the little man was the way to go. This girl was a real tiger he wouldn't want to tangle with. He could tell she wouldn't listen at least not yet. People like her had to fall flat on their faces before they realized their way wasn't the best way. He was afraid she was in for a rude awakening.

***

Gritting his teeth "get back inside. I'll hold them off" Charlie urged.

"We go back together" Zayne stubbornly stayed by his side.

"Go back," Charlie insisted "I'm good as dead already."

"I know first aid" Zayne assured him "I can stitch that up."

"The mutant contagion is already in my veins" Charlie pushed him towards the door "I'll go red eye in a few hours. If I'm not dead before then."

"This isn't a damn zombie movie,"Zayne shouted at him.

Laughing despite the pain Charlie waved a hand towards the approaching mutants "tell them that. You need to protect your family. I'll only endanger them. Now go before they get you too."

Zayne hesitated. He couldn't leave the boy to fight alone. He would have stayed if it weren't for the screams inside the house. "Thank you" he mumbled gripping the boys shoulder.

"Do me a favor" Charlie panted as he backed towards the house shielding Zayne "if you meet a purple haired boy named Andrew tell him I'm sorry."

Nodding Zayne backed his way onto the porch "I will" he said closing the door behind him.

"Daddy" Jordyn cried running to him throwing her arms around him.

Millie stared out the window watching as Charlie continued to fight off the mutants as they surrounded him "isn't there anything we can do for him?"

Shaking his head "he's been bit" Zayne explained "come on help me barricade the door."

"Daddy" Jordyn cried behind him.

Turning he found a strange unfamiliar woman standing in the middle of the room "what are you doing here?" she demanded.

"How should we know?" Millie cried "one moment we're talking someone called Irena the next we're here."

***

"Where's Charlie?" Quinn demanded.

Zayne's eyes moved towards the door. "You left him out there? she screamed.

"He went to save my little girl" Zayne said standing in her way "he got bit."

"I promised to protect him" Quinn cried "that fool must have disrupted the force field when she sent you here." Concentrating a loud clap of thunder made everyone jump. When the sound dissipated Charlie lay bleeding on the floor from several vicious bites.

Millie went to help the squirming, bleeding boy on the floor. "Don't touch him" Zayne yelled grabbing her arm "he's infected."

Quinn looked up at him "he is but it's nothing that I can't reverse."

Zayne looked out the window surprised to see the mutants ambling away from the house.

"Don't worry about those loathsome  creatures they can't get inside. The force field is in place again." She waved him over to where she sat next to Charlie, "hold him down. This is going to be extremely painful."

"Who is he?" Zayne asked looking at the boys face so much like his own son.

"Don't you recognize him?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah but it can't be him" Zayne closed his eyes "my son died in a car accident."

"In your dimension" Quinn said not unkindly "in this dimension his mother and father have died."

"Oh the poor boy" Millie said her sympathetic heart going out to the injured boy.

"Hold him down," Quinn directed as she poured her energy into him.

Charlie arched his back screaming in gut wrenching pain as his insides were set on fire. His body went limp soon after.

"Good he's unconscious" Quinn said "this will go quicker now that he's not awake.

***

How many hours had it been? Was the beacon working? Andrew resisted the urge to dig it up and check. He had to trust it was. Maybe Quinn had gotten busy. He refused to believe that she wouldn't live up to her promise. She would bring him home. To think otherwise would mean giving up all hope.

His hand stroked the girls long pretty purple hair. It reminded him of his mother. The same as his own hair. She could b a relative. Did that mean he had descendants that served this time period? It was a sobering thought.

He looked up to find the behemoth grinning through the bars at him making grunting sounds of pleasure. His huge mitt of a hand reached through the bars to stroke his hair like Andrew had been doing to the little girl. The behemoths touch wasn't as rough as he expected. For as large as the creature was he was gentler then he appeared.

Angry shouts from the caged humans reserved for soup brought grunts of anger from the behemoth. One human shouted at Andrew for being a traitor to his own kind. Andrew cringed wishing he could disappear. The little girl stirred in his arms.

The cage door rattled as the behemoth opened it and stepped inside. He shivered as the towering hulk stood over him. Unsure what was expected of him Andrew remained seated with the little girl clinging to him like a limpet.

Something tugged at the top of Andrew's head as the behemoth pulled at Andrew's longish hair. Andrew scrambled to his feet to keep his hair from being puled from his scalp. The behemoth shoved him against the wall. His vision blurred with the impact. Rough hands pried the girl from his arms. Her screams of terror caused Andrew to jerk away from the wall in an attempt to go to her.

Grunting in what sounded like displeasure the Behemoth placed a mitt around Andrew's neck pinning him like a fly to the wall.

"I'd stand very very still if I were you" a voice from the woman in the cell across from his advised "he's gentle as long as you don't resist."

Heart pounding Andrew squeezed his eyes shut as the behemoth's hands roamed across his body stopping on his protruding stomach. Pressing firmly until the baby kicked. Grunting with pleasure the behemoth pressed it's disgusting face close to Andrew's. It's fetid breath threatened to overwhelm all of Andrew's responsibilities. The behemoth pressed it's mouth hard against Andrew in an insistent kiss that left Andrew feeling nauseous.

The behemoth released his hold around Andrew's neck. As he slumped to the floor head reeling the behemoth left locking the cage behind him. "Congratulations" the same voice from earlier snickered "the mutant leader has chosen his new mate."

What the hell? Andrew held his fingers in front of his mouth fighting the urge to vomit. He shivered as his body and mind replayed the feeling of the behemoth's hands roaming across his body, touching areas that up until then only Charlie had. Andrew could feel the bile rising in his throat as feelings of guilt and shame swept through him. He would have shut down completely if it weren't for the soft touch from a very small hand on his knee.

"Don't cry" her sweet little voice was like music to his ears.

He gathered her into his arms rocking both of them to sleep. He couldn't help but wonder where Quinn was. That slim hope he had slipped further and further away from him as he came to the frightening conclusion this was his life now.

4.21 Uneasy Reflections

Stepping out of the taxi Emmaline scowled at her surroundings. If they had come here the year before she would have enjoyed it. Now it was a ridiculous luxury. What did she need here that she couldn't get at home? She heard the old guy who drove the taxi mutter something about teenagers. If he only knew all the things she had seen and done.

When their luggage had been unloaded Emmaline grabbed her bags and followed her mother down a path towards the water. "What's that monstrosity?" she asked pointing.

"That's our houseboat" Drew informed her "that's our house for the next couple of weeks."

"No freaking way" Emmaline dropped her bags "I'm not getting on that thing."

"Why not?" Drew asked "it's just like a house except on water."

"It's too...." she closed her mouth telling herself she wasn't in the future anymore. She didn't have to fear mutant attacks or needing to live behind fortified walls.

"It's too what? Open?" Drew asked giving her a flabbergasted look.

"I know I'm not there anymore," Emmaline cried "I can't change how I think about things."

"I don't expect you to," Drew said quietly "I thought" she bit her lip deciding on a different route "tell me what you see?"

"I see a trap" Emmaline looked at her surroundings "it's too isolated. If we get over run by a horde of mutants there's no other viable hiding place to take cover in."

"What makes it a trap?" Drew asked interested despite herself.

"There's only one exit from the boat," she shrugged "it could be easily over run once the mutants got on the boat."

"Would it make you feel better to know I planned on going out to sea once we got our stuff stored?"

Emmaline gave her mom a quizzical look "yes it would. Mutants can't swim. I watched one sink once. Out to sea would be good."

"You won't mind hanging out with just your old mom, will you?" Drew asked.

"No mom" Emmaline blew air out her nose relieved "I was afraid you'd want me to socialize with the islanders or something."

"I don't want you to do anything you're not comfortable with," Drew said

Smiling for the first time since they left Sunlit Tides Emmaline asked "did you rent any scuba gear?"

"What kind of mother would I be if I forgot the scuba gear?" Drew asked with her own smile.

"A very bad one," Emmaline retorted picking up her bags and walking towards the houseboat.

Once their gear was stored and Drew made sure they were well stocked with food they were ready to set sail. "Mom" Emmaline said.

"Yes honey?" Drew stopped what she was doing to look at her daughter.

"You know what I said about you being a bad mom was a joke right?" she asked fiddling with her fingers.

"I know" Drew acknowledged.

"Good" Emmaline muttered "I thought that maybe...with the way I've been acting." She let out a loud sigh "I didn't want you to think you were a bad mom."

"Oh honey" Drew cried hugging the girl tight. She could feel the stiffness in her body before she reciprocated the hug. Drew went to pull away only to have Emmaline cling to her tighter "please hold me" she begged  "we weren't able to display our feelings for each other."

Drew held her little girl while she spilled her heart out about what she had experienced in the future. It was enough to break your heart. No wonder she reacted the way she did to things. The nightmares. If she could Drew would hug her until all the pain and fear disappeared.

***

How long had it been? Andrew pulled his legs beneath him. A wave of vertigo swept through him once he was standing upright. Leaning heavily against the cold clammy wall he closed his eyes. He was becoming weak, ill he needed to eat preferably not human. Could he afford to be picky? The baby kicked him as if in protest.

A timid child approached his cell. A hard lump of something clutched in his small hands. As he passed the cell he dropped the lump within the cell without looking in Andrew's direction. The child kept walking limping painfully past. Andrew shivered. The child appeared mutant in color but it's eyes were human. That's what his future children would look like if he didn't figure out how to escape.

He sniffed the air drawn to the lump deposited inside his cell. Grabbing it he looked around making sure his actions hadn't any undue attention. Scurrying to a corner he crouched down inspecting his gift. It was hard, crumbly but edible. Bread. He took a small bite then another as he devoured the entire thing. His stomach rolled over content at last.

Feeling better than he had in a days Andrew searched his surroundings. There were other prisoners mostly women in various stages of pregnancy. They had dull lifeless eyes as if they had given up hope and accepted their fate. There was  cell full of angry yelling humans. Andrew looked away with a shiver. They must be future meals. Only the progenitors had their own semi private cells. He could feel the hate and pity radiating from the eyes of the captives.

The baby kicked him again reminding him he had a purpose. He had to set the beacon. Then this future could be changed. Turning his back on the captives he wrapped the filthy blanket around himself. He brought the beacon out inspecting it. A small green light shone brightly. According to the instructions that meant it was within acceptable parameters of the target set point.

That was one less thing he had to worry about. He didn't have to figure out how to get out of this cell to set it. He felt somewhat safer behind the bars then he would on the outside. Glancing around the bare cell his heart plummeted. There didn't seem to be any place to conceal the beacon. The green light would attract too much attention if left out in the open. He didn't want some mutant or human captive to find it and unset it once he left this place.

He inspected the clammy brittle brick what made up part of his cell walls. Could he dig into the brick far enough to conceal the beacon? He cautiously put a hand out feeling the wall testing it's integrity. It crumbled satisfactorily in his hand. He made a small indentation in the wall so he could find it later by touch once the lights were out.

He tossed a couple of discarded bowls over to the corner he had been in. He could use the bowls to dig and protect the beacon within the wall. He hoped it would be ok once he packed the brick dust around it. The hole would need to be low near or at floor level to be less conspicuous.

There was a loud clanging noise towards the bars of his prison. Turning he was dismayed to see the burly behemoth that had carried him into this place. The mutant appeared to be smiling at him. Afraid to draw attention to what he had been doing Andrew approached his visitor. Deep guttural grunts emanated from the huge beast. Was it angry? Happy? From the nasty hooting and whistles from the captives Andrew thought it more likely a form of mating call.

***

Charlie paced the small house. It had been 2-3 days since Quinn had left erecting some sort of force field around the house protecting him. Without Andrew the house felt lonely, cold, eerie. At least when Quinn had been around he could voice his fears and complaints to someone. He hated being alone. Maybe it was a hold over from being an only child or maybe he had become too used to having Andrew around.

He sat on the floor the dog lying beside him. Charlie's mind drifted recalling memories of him and his dad. He was about eight years old when his dad became seriously involved with Tiffany. She had been blond, pretty, giving the impression of an airhead. Charlie hated her.

He remembered how she would call with some earth shattering emergency that only his dad was able to handle. Always in the middle of something important to Charlie. Charlie had the starring role in his third grade play. It had been all he talked about for months. His excitement grew when he saw his dad sitting in the audience a proud father expression on his face. His excitement faded to abject misery and rejection watching his father talking on his phone. Watching helplessly from the stage as his dad got up and left. Devastated at seeing his dad walk out on his play Charlie's mind went blank forgetting all of his well rehearsed lines. The audience erupted into gales of laughter. Standing in front of so many people, heart heavy he ran from the stage blinded by tears.

It was later when Zayne came back with Tiffany giggling in the front seat that Charlie found out what happened. He sat in the back seat seething with anger listening to her halfhearted apology for making his dad miss his performance because of her stupidity. Yeah, no she wasn't as stupid as she appeared. There was a calculating look in her eyes as she explained how she had locked herself out of her apartment. Even Charlie knew she should have called the landlord to let her in or even a locksmith. She did it on purpose. He knew and she knew it.

Another time Charlie had a little league game. His dad had taken the time off to watch him play. Charlie had been so excited knowing his dad was going to be there. He was going to see him play for the first time after missing every other game Charlie had ever played.

Charlie remembered his disappointment as he looked out into the crowd of proud parents and his dad wasn't there. Half way through the game his dad still hadn't arrived Charlie knew something had come up. He tried to convince himself that it was work related. Some big case that only his dad could solve but deep down inside he knew it was Tiffany.

When the game was over and everyone but him was cheering over their win. Charlie slumped off the field dragging his bat behind him. He walked towards the bus stop wanting nothing more than to be at home where he could cry alone. Stopping he looked around the parking lot. That's when he saw them. Tiffany and his dad kissing like nothing had happened. Something broke inside him as he ran up to his dad screaming "you missed my game because of her" he pointed at Tiffany disgust and disappointment written all over him.

"I know you're disappointed in me son but that's no reason to take it out on Tiffany. She really wanted to be here to watch you play."

"You promised you'd be here," he screamed stomping his feet.

"I know and I'm sorry. But there will be other games," Zayne said reasonably.

"That's what you said last year and you never came" Charlie shouted. He could feel tears of anger flowing down his cheeks "this was the last game of the season and you missed it." Words failing him he did what he had seen several older kids do on the bus. He flipped his father off.

To give his dad his due he didn't get angry and lecture him about what he had just done. In a way it made him feel worse when he apologized "I'm sorry" Zayne mumbled "Tiffany needed to run some errands. It took longer than we thought it would. I'm sorry." Zayne pulled his son close giving him a hug.

Pulling away from his dad Charlie glared at Tiffany "yeah and I bet you paid for everything too." Charlie rolled his eyes shaking his dad's hand off his shoulder "open your eyes dad. She's a blood sucking bitch out to get whatever she can. She doesn't care about you or me."

That was the first time Charlie had ever made his dad truly furious with him. It didn't matter that he had been right about Tiffany. He knew he had deeply hurt his dad. He had felt bad for months afterwards and he often wondered if he was the reason why his dad never dated much after that. Was he the reason why his dad never remarried?

Shaking his head he tried to quiet his troubled thoughts but he couldn't help but wonder if something happened to him if Andrew would remarry. Of course that would mean they had to survive this nightmare in order to get married.

***

After Randy had come to get his things Indira made a desultory attempt at cleaning up the mess she had created. She had expected Randy to see the mess and offer to stay clean it for her or at least help. Instead he had left after insulting her. Would a prospective employer really care how she kept her house? She hadn't given it much thought of course she wouldn't want her boss seeing the mess she lived in but would that actually influence her promotions or the jobs she were offered? She always expected by the time she hosted her boss at her home she'd have people to cook and clean for her so all this self reflection was for nothing.

She could still hear Randy telling her she was putting the cart before the horse. She shook her head it was good to know where you wanted to be. Picking up the clothes from the floor she attempted to separate the clean ones from the dirty. Her mind wouldn't quit replaying Randy's harsh words. Was she really a hypocrite? Did she really have double standards? She thought image was everything. She felt like he had shaken her beliefs. No one had ever done that before.

She gave up on cleaning. Walking over to her unmade bed she pulled out a sweat shirt from beneath her pillow. Hugged it to her chest breathing deeply. It still had his scent on it. She sat on the edge of the bed holding the sweat shirt to her face. Should she go after him? Beg him to stay. She wanted him to stay. She wanted someone around to remind her to get out of her own head. When she was with him she was a better person.

Dropping the sweat shirt she knew she couldn't chase after  him. She didn't have to change for him or anyone no matter if her opinions were unpopular. Most women in power positions were bitches at least everyone thought they were. She wouldn't allow sentiment or family sway her from her course. Family would always be there waiting when she wanted them but her future might not be.

***

Andrew watched the little girl who had been deposited into his cell with him. She held a ragged doll to her chest. Her eyes large with with fear. She looked somehow familiar. "Hey sweetie what's your name?" Andrew asked his voice low hoping to gain the girls trust.

She stared at him clutching the doll in her hands. Andrew wondered if she was the behemoth's daughter.She didn't appear to be mutant or even partial mutant. He wished he could ask someone why she was put in with him. All he could surmise was she wasn't soup meat otherwise she'd be in with the others.

Sometime later a tray of old bread with a few recognizable vegetables was slid into his cell. The wide eyed girl squealed with fright as they approached. Huddling close to Andrew she clutched at his pants leg with one hand. Once the mutant set the tray down and pushed it through the slot towards them Andrew grabbed the crusty bread nibbling on it.

He looked down at the little girl wondering what he was going to do with her. When he set the beacon he didn't want to leave her behind if he could believe Quinn would send him and Charlie home. "What's your name sweetie?" he asked again.

The only response he received was her pointing at a carrot type vegetable on the tray. Smiling he handed it to her. He watched her nibble on it while she silently watched him. He munched on a carrot himself wondering about the changed menu. Had they figured out he wouldn't eat human flesh? Were they actually catering him?

Just in case the menu switched back to human soup Andrew saved a few vegetables and half the bread for later. He stretched out on the floor for a nap. He could feel the little girl imitate him stretching out beside him. Her added warmth beneath the rank blanket helped him drift off to sleep quicker than usual.

***

As the day turned to night Andrew crawled to his corner using the bowls as scoopers. The scraping sound the bowls made as he dug echoed off the cell walls. He hoped the sound would go mostly unnoticed. He didn't have to dig much.

Gradually the cells grew more and more quiet as the imprisoned humans fell asleep. A light flashed through the cells causing Andrew to stretch out on the floor where he was pretending to be asleep. The light stayed on him longer than usual. He forced himself to remain still like he was asleep. Most nights he didn't even know they searched the cells. He heard the little girl start to sing to her dollie. The light swung to her than passed on the to the next cell.

Once it was still and dark again Andrew sat up resumed his digging. He felt around the hole trying to imagine the circumference was large enough to hide both the beacon and the bowls. Without light to see he relied on his sense of touch. He thought it was large enough to conceal what he needed it to.

Taking a deep breath he felt for the button he needed to set the beacon before placing it inside one of the bowls. Setting the bowl with beacon inside his hole he placed the other bowl over the top. He hoped that would be sufficient to protect the beacon from being jostled around and from dirt getting inside it when he covered up the hole. He filled in the hole hoping there would be little evidence of what he had done. He curled up on the floor to get some much needed sleep. He felt the little girl crawl beneath the blanket with him.