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.