3 comments/ 11290 views/ 26 favorites The Afflicted Ch. 15 By: ShyChiWriter Hello all. Thank you so very much for your patience with this I have submitted two chapters, so although this one is a cliffhanger, the next chapter should be up a couple of days from now. Votes, comments, and favorites are always appreciated. * * * * The companions looked at each other with surprise. Martin had just given them a glimpse into his unique, analytic mind by deducing so quickly that he was the mechanic in the prophecy of the Elders. "It makes sense," said Claude. "Loenshellen told us to follow our compass. Aimée felt she had to get Martin, but she didn't know why. He is our sixth." "I agree," said Jacob. "You have an actual clockmaker. How do you know him?" "It didn't seem important at the time," said Abby. "We met him in Paris. He was charming and gave us a clock - but it just seemed like a random encounter." "Until just a little while ago," said Aimée. "Then, all the pieces fell into place in my mind." For his part, Martin, in his usual distracted fashion, was peering at the complex machinery around them. "There," he said. "No, there," he continued. He was pointing to various spots on all of the machines, attempting to reckon the best spots to cripple the equipment. "Yes, I have it now," he said. "I know every spot we need to hit. It won't take much, really. Just a loosened nut, or a bar in just the right places and we'll have this place useless to them. I'll know how to fix it if we need it, but it will take them weeks to figure it out." "We can help. Just tell us what we can do," said Aimée. "I wish I could describe it," said Martin. "But it's too complicated." "Silly clockmaker," said Abby. "How quickly you forget who you are dealing with. Show me, and I'll show them." "Oh, of course," said Martin. Abby kissed him chastely which allowed her to lift the images and ideas out of his head. She transferred one image and idea at a time to each of her companions. As luck would have it, there were five precise spots that Martin believed would render the serum factory useless for at least a few days. Now it was Abby's time to influence Arnet's followers. She was masterful at her job. Each person in the factory suddenly realized they had something to do - somewhere other than near a spot that needed to be sabotaged. One by one, they drifted off to other places and looked away in other directions. Each of the five arrived at their spot with an implement in hand and set to work. Aimée and Jacob's work was easiest - they simply had to toss in metal bars which fell into gears and began to slowly gum up the works. Glennis and Claude's sabotage operations involved snipping cooling tubes which would lead to massive overheating within the equipment within a few moments. Martin's work was the most complicated, he opened a gear box and reversed several gears as well as disengaging others. He had surmised that the operator would come to this junction first. The changes he was making within the gears assured that whoever tried to stop the entire assembly would actually set in motion the final death commands for the factory. They didn't need to walk back to Abby, with four quick 'zips' Aimée had them back to their friend and with a small pop they were back at their abandoned hideout in Manhattan, ready to join the troops in the city. "Where are you?" called out Abby to Frederique's mind. "Fighting," said the beautiful fighter. "But don't come. I have a curious feeling. Lay low. That's an order." As disappointed as they were in being denied the chance to fight, they felt they had accomplished a good amount of work that evening - and Frederique's tone left no possibility of argument. The companions took a survey of the building where they were hiding. They found a back, internal stairway, and were pleased to discover that the ground floor was a dry-goods store and the basement was well stocked with wine, food, and even a secluded store room which seemed to have been closed for years based on the amount of rust on the hinges. No one would seek them out there. * * * * The battle plan for the resistance was different this evening. Since combining forces with the Cadets, they had begun a more systematic approach. This evening, Seiko was leading ground forces while Scaurus and Frederique took two different flying contingents. Palo had been asked to oversee the water supply issue and finish that before joining the battle. He was working with Karl, the finest inventor among the Afflicted (other than Franz). Palo explained. "We need to be sure we have a steady supply of bleach going into the water for days so that we kill the serum as soon as it enters the system." "These will work," said Karl. They had devised large canisters with slow drip mechanisms. "We just need to find a place to conceal it near the outlet valves." "Can it work under water?" asked a voice in an Irish accent. They turned to see Sean the swimmer approaching. "I heard about your task and I thought I might be of assistance. Can you fix that so it comes out under water?" "Well, yes," said Karl. "We would just need a better seal and a pressure spring, but it could be done fairly quickly. I have some concerns about just dropping it in, though. I would want it at just the right place." "You worry about getting the equipment working- I'll get it to the bottom of the reservoir. Trust me." "Very good," said Palo. "Palo!" cried a woman's voice. It was Hypatia, and she was sailing upon a huge sheaf of newsprint as though it were a magic carpet. "What is it, Hypatia?" he called. "Scaurus needs you, quickly." "We'll take it from here," said Karl. "Go." Palo took Hypatia's hand in his. The paper she'd been riding upon rolled up neatly and floated into one of many scroll tubes she had slung on her shoulders. Off they flew. * * * * The battles were proceeding well. Aimée's efforts to snatch the leaders had paid off with phenomenal returns. Without clearheaded, well-prepared leaders, Arnet's (now) thousands of followers had taken to generally milling about. For the resistance, the night was proceeding with surprising ease. Arnet's Afflicted warriors were being hit with disabling wounds at a steady pace and it seemed that the evening would be a clear, decisive victory. Suddenly, however, the course of battle turned. The Afflicted members of the resistance began to wither. It happened with two flying fighters first. They had been fighting strongly but they simply began to fall. The resistance fighters around them watched in shock as the two warriors fell in fits and starts, eventually crashing to the street with a force that wasn't fatal, but certainly damaging. On the next street over, two more fell and then non-fliers began growing nauseous and dropped to their knees. "Disengage!" cried Frederique. "Something is wrong!" All who were able scrambled or flew away. Frederique felt a brief flash of weakness herself, but was able to outfly whatever force was pulling at her. From a great height, she retrieved a spyglass and looked down sadly to see over forty crippled Afflicted have needles put to their necks and succumb to the infectious, hypnotic spell of Arnet's blood. Scaurus saw her and flew to meet her. "This is bad," he said. "It seems like they've gotten portable dampeners that can project the field over some distance." "Bordel de Merde!" cried Frederique. "If they can cover too large an area with that thing we don't stand a chance." "Ah, but they don't know about our secret weapon," said Scaurus. "And here it comes." Palo and Hypatia ascended rapidly upward and hovered beside Scaurus and Frederique as Scaurus explained the situation. "Can you sense any of them?" asked Scaurus of Palo. Palo reached out with his senses and found the first of the dampeners. The workings quickly made sense to him. He gave a wry chuckle. "I see exactly how to disable it, but I can't do it from this distance. I'll need to be closer." "See what? Do what?" asked Frederique. "My dear," explained Scaurus, "it seems that the clockmaker's gift has appeared again in a mate of Frederique. Palo, I'll take Hypatia, you explain it to Frederique - but quickly." Hypatia could support herself on pieces of paper suspended in air, but it was not the effortless energy of the flyer and it was easier to have help when available. Scaurus took Hypatia's hand and floated a short distance away as Palo explained things in gentle tones to Frederique. Frederique took the new information in calmly; resolving to face the greater implications of Palo's new ability after the battle was won. "Very well," said Frederique. "Here is what we do. Scaurus and I will fly ahead of you to distract the people with the dampeners. They will aim at us, and we'll simply pray to god you can knock out each one before we hit the ground so we can return to flying again." "Sounds like as good of a plan as any," agreed Scaurus. "Hypatia, why don't you go check on the progress of Pasteur and Jeannie? If we make headway, any counter-serum they can give us might prove to be critical in this battle." Hypatia gave him an understanding nod and unfurled her 'carpet' once again. She flew swiftly back to the underground mansion. * * * * In the forgotten storeroom below the dry goods store, Claude was pacing about manically. "I want to go!" he said between gritted teeth. "I want to help." "You heard mother," said Aimée. "That wasn't just an overprotective mother. That was a general giving very clear orders. For whatever reason, she wants us out of it. But still, I could help, too. They have no deplaceurs. I could move people around." "I could attack from within," said Jacob. "I could guess their very thoughts," insisted Abby. "I'd rip them to shreds," said Claude. "I would slash their throats and drink their blood and it would make me stronger." "Indeed," agreed Jacob. Glennis and Martin watched the four with more than a bit of concern. Their four companions had a frightening look in their eyes that bordered on madness. "We should go," said Aimée. The four Afflicted debated back and forth, but Glennis perceived there was something deeper which needed fixed. She searched through some of the crates near them and found what she needed. Pulling Martin aside, they conferred - turned their backs - and then turned to their companions. All four Afflicted suddenly stopped and turned toward the unmistakable scent which hit their nostrils. Glennis and Martin each held a goblet in their hands and approached their friends. Each of them had a slashed finger and had filled their container with blood. "You need this," said Glennis. "That's what has you so upset. It's been two days since you drank. Come on then." Abby was the first to comprehend the need for this and was able to send out a soothing signal to the others. "Of course," she said. "Give me some." She lifted Glennis's goblet to her face, but quickly pushed it back toward the fair girl. "No," she said. "There's something different about your blood. My body doesn't want it. Let me try Martin's." She sipped from Martin's offering and gave a sigh of relief as her senses cleared. A few drops were all they needed. Yet, those drops came just in time. They had been on the brink of being very dangerous to their companions and others. The others followed suit, drinking their ration. They were soon much calmer, but not calm enough. There was still another hunger which was growing within their bodies. They were in such an odd state they couldn't even recognize what they were feeling. Glennis, who had spent more time among the Afflicted, knew exactly what they were in need of. "I know what's wrong," she said. "Come here Claude." She walked to Claude and took his hand in hers. She pulled him to Abby and put that same hand on Abby's breast. The singing of nerves and the way their systems cried out to each other was instant. Aimée comprehended the situation and was quickly in Jacob's arms. There were no doubts as to where things would go from there. Claude took Abby's hand and led her to a row of crates where they dipped down out of sight. Aimée took Jacob's hand, and led him to another corner that availed them of some privacy. The sounds of passion began to grow louder. Glennis and Martin sat side by side on a crate. "They have to," said Glennis, blushing. "It comes with the Affliction. They can't help it." "I gathered that," said Martin, his cheeks also red. "Still, I suppose if you have to do something - a few drops of blood and lots of that - not too shabby." "True," said Glennis. They sat in more awkward silence as several pieces of clothing flew over the crates shielding Aimée and Jacob. "Do you need to?" asked Martin. "Oh, no," said Glennis. "I'm not made like them. I've been considering trying that. To tell the truth I never have." "Neither have I," said Martin after a pause. The moans grew louder. "We could kiss," offered Glennis. "I like kissing and it might help distract from...them." "I would be agreeable to that," said Martin. They started kissing. It definitely helped to distract. Behind one row of crates, Claude hadn't even gotten his trousers off. He was lying on his back and Abby was sucking hungrily at his cock. "Don't hold back," she insisted. "You've got plenty more." She twisted his cock in her hands, gave a simple lick, and reached out to give a tiny mental nudge. The gushing began. She was so randy, so hungry, there was no volume of cum Claude could produce that she couldn't swallow. Like one stranded in the desert tasting their first water in days, she let this lovely white fluid pour down her throat and swallowed with abandon. Before the last drops had finished streaming, she had climbed aboard his massive, resilient cock, and was riding him to satiate her own needs. Across the room, behind their own crates, if one hadn't known better they would have thought Aimée was having a delicious erotic, solo, fantasy. She was lying naked upon the ground and moaning with pleasure and seemed to be kissing an imaginary lover. However, there were a few telltale signs that this was no flight of fancy, no sensuous daydream. As she moaned and twisted her body, her breasts grew flatter and more round as though they were being crushed from above. She kissed, too - her lips crushed by her invisible lover, her tongue dancing with his imperceptible moist and hungry mouth. Above all, if one were looking for signs of how real her lover was, they needed to only look at her bald and glistening pussy. Her lower lips were spread wide and open, gaping from the presence of a long and powerful tool. Piercing her inner sanctum, Jacob couldn't help but be somewhat visible as his juice-soaked cock slid in and out, her sweet nectar creating a diaphanous shaft that continued parting her down below. Evident, too, was the impossibly long path Jacob's cock was taking in and out of her. He was taking full thrusts, and with each push her skin rippled from her pelvis to far up her belly as his invisible snake plundered her Garden of Eden. The invisible intruder started to slow and she moaned with ecstasy as her own orgasm gripped her body. "Cum with me Jacob," she pleaded, "cum right now." The invisible cock within her held one more surprise. Jacob's moan rang out and the young stallion began to empty torrents of seed into her belly. At the spot where the long raised protrusion of his invisible rod terminated in her womb, a bulge began to grow as two days' worth of cum filled her more than she could have possibly imagined. Her hands clawed at his invisible back and bright red stripes hung in the air as Jacob poured his seed into her. He was soon spent and he collapsed on top of her, coming back into view as he did so. Aimée sighed at the comforting feeling of his body atop her, and the boiling hot volumes of cum within her. On the other side of the crates, things had progressed surprisingly quickly with Martin and Glennis. Their tops were now off and they were kissing passionately. Her hand reached curiously down his pants to find a lovely, warm, stiff surprise within. "Does that feel good?" she asked. "Oh yes," he concurred. "Does this?" His own hand had sought out her treasures below her skirt. His hands displayed surprising tenderness as he found her secret spot. Being a 'mechanic', after all, he had long ago sought out clandestine books that taught him the workings of the mysterious machine called 'woman'. In answer to his question, Glennis could only nod and gasp, leaning in to kiss him fervently. She pushed his pants down to allow her better access. Behind the other crates, Abby was now seated lotus-style, mid-air. With only Claude's index fingers touching hers, he was lifting her up and down his monstrous shaft with his extended flight abilities. Each plunge sent a ripple of pleasure through her frame. She knew if she wished, they could go on for hours, but now it seemed best to hurry things along. She reached down with her free hand and began rubbing her clit slowly in time with Claude's cunt-splitting manipulations. She felt the orgasm beginning. In her pleasure she forgot to put up the usual mental precautions. Like a shock wave from a bomb, her orgasm ripped through the others in the room. Jacob and Aimée, who had been drifting in post-coital slumber found themselves awakened with lovely gasps. Jacob's cock, which had been slowly softening within Aimée, went from half-hard to unbending in a second, and from there to spraying another impossibly huge load into Aimée's cavern as she also gave into every pleasure center in her body being flipped to 'on'. Claude, too, though he had climaxed scarce minutes before, tipped over into climax and filled the tiny redhead to overflowing. Most surprised of all were Glennis and Martin, who had certainly been engaged in heavy petting, but hadn't been near climax. Martin groaned out in surprise as his cock began shooting ropes of cum onto the dusty floor. Glennis, too, was paralyzed with pleasure - and the two virgins' only regret was that they weren't able to watch their partner's climax more closely due to being in the thralls of their own. "Sorry, "whispered Abby's embarrassed voice from behind the crates. The entire room began to giggle and from there collapsed into laughter. This was probably a good thing, because it distracted the randy companions from the dangerous mating lust that lingered, as always, in the background. Their needs satisfied, they all began to get dressed again. * * * * Hypatia gave a cursory nod to the guard. As usual, the guard dispensed of the customary security checks with the great scholar. She started toward the kitchen-now-lab to check on the progress of the two scientists. Pasteur was carefully placing the vials back into the incubating safe. There was now a seventh in the mix. The vials were no longer red, but had been spun out on the centrifuge, separating the red from the white cells, and settling the almost amber cells of the Affliction at the very bottom. The top layers had been suctioned away, leaving only the unique cells of the Afflicted in the bottom fourth of each vial. Also within the safe was Pasteur's emergency kit which he had used when saving Aimée's life after her encounter with Bullet. Pasteur closed the safe door and was about to lock it when he heard the footsteps. "Hypatia, hello," said Jeannie. "How does the battle go?" "Back and forth, but I believe that triumphs is near." The Afflicted Ch. 15 "Good." "How are things going with you?" asked Hypatia. "Any progress on the counter-serum?" "You're about to see for yourself," said Pasteur. "Jeannie has prepared the culture and we think we have it this time." Before them was a large, ten-liter beaker. The thermometer in the fluid showed it to be just over body temperature. Pasteur took a syringe and squeezed a few drops of light amber fluid into the liquid. "Who is the donor?" asked Hypatia. "Surprisingly, it is the new girl Jessamine. The others showed some promise, but we suspect that her being newly Afflicted had something to do with the way her cells took more readily to being synthesized." "Then why not you?" asked Hypatia. "You were turned not that long ago." "I was fairly good as well, but still not as strong. Now watch as we add the catalyst." Jeannie did so, squeezing in some solution from a dropper. The change was instant and dramatic. The amber/gold-ish color began to spread from the place where she'd put in the new fluid and within less than twenty seconds the entire beaker was changed and remained stable with the new color. "It worked," said Pasteur. "And I'd wager this is ten times faster than whatever method Arnet's people are using." "That's wonderful," said Hypatia, putting a hand on each of their shoulders. "I'm so proud of you. You will be such a great addition to the cause." "Will be?" asked Jeannie. She looked to Hypatia with a curious expression. Pasteur started to realize the peril, but it was too late. He felt the sharp prick in his shoulder. A second later, his whole world changed. Jeannie bent over in pain as Arnet's blood rushed into her system. Even with her resistance it took less than a minute for her to look up at them with the blissful, mindless gaze of adoration. Her whole being was now intent on pleasing 'the Master'. As one, the three of them looked at each other with a clear sense of purpose. Hypatia left the room to inject the guards. Pasteur and Jeannie began shattering equipment. The container of amber liquid that was potentially world-saving was dumped down the sink. Vials and beakers were smashed. Even the ledger book, which had been on the counter, was burned. By the time they were done, all that remained was medical equipment which they would retrieve at a later time. In their obsessive focus, as happened with so many people under Arnet's spell, they did miss one element. The safe remained unnoticed with the door open a tiny crack; its precious contents were still untouched. * * * * Frederique, Scaurus, and Palo were cutting a swath through the city. Frederique flew point and was hit more than once by the debilitating rays of the dampeners. However, Palo was able to latch on just as quickly to the source and send a destructive impulse to the individual power supply for each unit. Soon, they had knocked eight dampeners out of commission and began sweeps around the city seeking out more. Frederique carried a bow. As she flew over the city, she surpassed her legendary status as she disabled foe after foe with impossible shots from obscene distances. Her arrows swooped around corners, dipped, and dodged. Each projectile was guided by her mastery of anything to do with the air. She had just dropped two Afflicted marksmen from a quarter mile away when Palo and Scaurus came zooming out from a block of buildings with shouts of triumph, calling her toward them. "We've found him," said Scaurus. "We've found the dog! He's barely guarded, no less. This is our chance!" Palo and Scaurus flew like the wind with Frederique on their heels. Scaurus stopped abruptly on one side of a building. "He is around this corner," he whispered. "My dear, would you like to do the honors?" "Like father like son, eh?" said Frederique with a grin. "I would like that - to see them both meet the same end by the same hand - mine. I relish the thought." Frederique flew up and peeked around the corner. Arnet was indeed there. He was surrounded by a mere four bodyguards. Frederique considered flying backward and taking him out with her bow, but decided she would rather have the challenge of taking out the bodyguards and looking directly into the rat's eyes when he died. At the speed of thought, she whipped around the corner, sword drawn, hurtling toward the worst enemy the Afflicted had yet to see. She felt slow... sluggish. She instantly realized the sensation and called out to her former mate. "Palo, they have dampeners! Take them out!" The sensation continued and she continued to fall. It took every ounce of her strength to stay in the air. She feared for the worst and turned as she was falling to see where Palo and Scaurus might be. What she saw was beyond the worst. Scaurus and Palo were there - hovering - their arms folded smugly as they watched her fall. The last of her strength left her perhaps ten feet from the ground and she fell with a sickening thud. Though she tried, her limbs had no strength to fight Arnet's servants who rushed in and clamped a dampening collar around her neck. Once she was secure, the area dampeners were shut off. However, Arnet's people took no chances. Frederique's hands were bound behind her, and she still had four attendants, each with a chain connected to her collar. Palo and Scaurus entered the street and landed by her side. Angry tears were falling down Frederique's cheeks. "Oh my friends," she sobbed. "How? How did this happen?" "I was struck in the beginning of this night's battle," explained Scaurus. "But it occurred to me that the best way to serve the Master was to continue the ruse for as long as I could. No one would question or test me during the heat of battle. I infected the ground troops first. Then I got Hypatia while you were talking with Palo about his new gift. Just now, a few minutes ago, Palo joined us as well." Palo's eyes glimmered with the familiar, mindless gaze so common among Arnet's followers. "It's for the best, Frederique." He was smiling and certain - absolutely convinced by a biological bond that Arnet was the perfect leader for the new order. Arnet had reached them. "Master," said Scaurus, kneeling. "I beg your forgiveness. I spoke of you in unflattering ways. As hard as it was for me to do, I fought through it. I had to call you such names in order to lure them in." "You are forgiven, great general," said Arnet. "It speaks of your strength that you were able to do so for my sake." Arnet turned and leered at Frederique with a mixture of lust, triumph, and disgust all rolled into one. "The great Frederique," he said. "You thought you had saved your kind so many years ago. In fact, you were just paving the way for greater things." "I suppose if you consider a thin-faced, pasty, rat better than a pathetic sniveling weasel - then yes, this is much greater, you scab of humanity." A growl went up from everyone around, but Arnet simply grinned. "Oh, Frederique; as much as it seems you should be punished for such words, I am patient. You yourself will remember saying such things after you are bound to me, and you will beg to be punished for such thoughts. However, I can't have you upsetting my followers. Gag her please." A length of rope was placed around Frederique's head and pulled tight through her mouth. Arnet stepped aside to speak with Scaurus, Palo, and other lieutenants. Cora, who had been waiting in the wings, stepped forward to examine Frederique closely. "So," she said softly, so only Frederique could hear. "This is my competition. Your reputation precedes you, and I see why. Gorgeous, athletic, and..." Saying this, Cora paused. She removed a razor-sharp poniard from her dress. With a malicious glint in her eye, she pushed it down Frederique's cleavage to slice the leather top wide open. "My, oh my, those are amazing," continued Cora. "I'll have to learn how to take this shape, at least in the breast department." If Cora had thought she would be demeaning Frederique, she was mistaken. The proud heroine now stood even taller, her bare breasts indeed 'magnificent'. Her refusal to allow the slightest hint of shame to enter her expression simply made her more beautiful, more dignified. Several pops lit up the air. Bullet, Brolly, and every other deplaceur appeared. "Report?" asked Arnet. "We are nearly complete," said Brolly. "Tonight was the snowball night. Once we turned the first few, they revealed the locations of their friends, and so on. By our count, there are fewer than ten unaccounted for. " "May I ask, are the four young ones among the number we are missing?" "I fear they are, Master," said Bullet. "Good," said Arnet. "Why good, master?" asked Scaurus He turned back to Frederique and leered at her now exposed breasts. Then he moved close to her, his chest brushing against hers suggestively. He spoke into her ear. "You see, Frederique, I am waiting to turn you," he explained. "I have taken your mate, but there are still your children. The problem is; if I turn you now, you will be happy when I bind them to me with my blood. What I want is to see you suffer the ultimate loss. I want you to watch your children fall to my needle. Once I see you in absolute despair, then I will bring you over to the light." Fear flashed through Frederique's eyes. This was duly noticed by Arnet and his pulse quickened. "Oh yes, that will be just the thing," he said. He lifted a hand to caress one of Frederique's breasts. Then he gave a firm pinch to her nipple. "Of course, I might also let a few men enjoy you before that moment as well. The great Frederique, taken against her will. What do you think of that?" Her eyes showed no hint of fear at this. To Frederique, her body was nothing. It could be ravaged, tortured and abused in any way. She would heal and her mind was too strong to worry about such insignificant things as her body. To see her children succumb to Arnet was truly her greatest fear. Arnet turned to Brolly. "How is the tracker coming along?" "It's good," said the jovial deplaceur. "We have very good news. The serum factory was sabotaged today, by six people, four of whom we believe to be our targets. Franz's equipment was able to get an imprint of all of them. As soon as they jump again we'll be able to find them." "Perfect," said Arnet. "You set things in order here. Let us return to Lyndhurst. The entire world should be ours within week - two at the most." Bullet reached out and took Arnet back to the American castle he had appropriated on the Hudson River. Brolly evaluated Frederique carefully. "We could fly you, I suppose," he said. "The problem with that is there is more risk in transport. What should we do? I know." With a seemingly casual swipe of his fist, he caught her across the jaw and her form went limp. "On the count of three, turn off the dampener," he said. "We'll jump, and the instant we're there switch it back on. One. Two. Three." * * * * Abby looked up fearfully. Something is wrong. Something is very, very wrong, she thought. She reached out with every sense she possessed. "Your father has been turned," she said to Claude and Aimée. "So have Scaurus, Jeannie, and Pasteur. Nearly everyone has been taken." "It's time then," said Claude. "We fight now." "No!" rang a voice in their heads. To whom it belonged, they couldn't tell, but it seemed unwise to contradict the voice booming in their minds. "Wait," said the voice. "Soon." They waited in silence, their anxiousness growing by the moment. For five, then ten minutes, they sat in silence. "Now!!" cried the voice. "But do not deplace yet. Good luck!" Galen, in his enforced hibernation, also heard the voice cry 'now'. Though his body had been slowed, his mind had spent the past few days pondering the possible scenarios and he had arrived at what he believed was the best solution to their peril. Now he just needed to tell someone. Upon hearing the disembodied voice, he allowed his system to speed up enough to give him some energy. "Abby!" he cried with his mind. "Abby! Are you there?" "Yes. Yes, Galen! I am here. Where are you?" "I haven't much time. Now listen!" Galen sent out a rapid and intense series of thoughts and images to Abby. The others could simply stand by as she received the message. "I see," she said when he was done. "We'll do our best." "Must go," said Galen's voice. "Must sleep or be turned. God speed." "What is it?" asked Jacob. "What do we need to do?" "I... it's big," said Abby. "I'm not sure how to explain it now and I have to stay focused. Galen put a great deal of information in my head, but I'm not the scientist he is. I need to focus on that. First we need a lab. Take us to the clinic." Their search began. With Claude's help they flew close to buildings, a chain of six bodies snaking about through the shadows. As the others kept a watchful eye, Abby simply let herself be flown about, her face was a mask of concentration, focused entirely on the information Galen had pushed into her head. When they arrived at the clinic, their first target was the laboratory. They landed on the roof of a building across the street. Peering over the edge, Claude cursed angrily. The building was heavily guarded. "Perhaps a hospital," suggested Jacob. "Would they have what we need?" "I doubt it," said Abby. "They wouldn't have the technology that is necessary." The blind girl screwed up her face in frustration. "Damn it!" she whispered. "Keeping track of all of these instructions is so hard." Aimée pulled the others aside. "This is beyond frustrating," she said. "We need her abilities to help us get into the lab, or at least to help us find somewhere else where there is a lab. But if she can't speak without losing her concentration, how is she going to reach into other's minds?" "Might I make a suggestion?" said Martin. "Anything is welcome," said Claude. "I don't mean any offense by this," said the clockmaker. "But, it is likely that I have the most scientific mind of all of us. Is there a chance that the lovely redhead could put these same ideas she's speaking of into my mind? I could probably retain them easier and she could use her abilities to help in this adventure." They nodded in agreement and Aimée made the suggestion to Abby. Though her brow was wrinkled with concentration, Abby agreed that it might be possible. Martin went to her. "How should we do this?" he asked. "Kiss me," said Abby. As they had a few hours before, when Abby had related their entire tale through her unique connection, Abby drew Martin close and pressed her lips to his. She was cautious, at first, putting just an image or two into his head while still focusing on the information Galen had given her. "It's working," she said softly. "But we need more." She put her hands up, cradling his face in her hands while they kissed. "We need more," she said. "The connection happens through our nervous systems." "Oh," stammered Martin. "I'm not sure how we would..." "Come here, dear," she whispered. She pushed her bodice down, revealing her lovely right breast. Martin, in full innocence, blushed furiously. Abby would have been gentler in other circumstances but expedience was necessary at the moment. "It's alright," she whispered. "Just fall into me, it will be easy enough." She took his hand and guided it to her breast. He cupped it tenderly and was then pulled into a kiss so passionate Martin had no chance to think about being embarrassed. From his hand to her breast, from her lips to his, from where their bodies touched, their bond was suddenly complete. Over those pathways, Abby sent the information and images Galen had given to her. They were frozen in that way for what seemed like minutes, but they were actually only merged for a few seconds. When their lips parted, Martin nodded in the affirmative. "I understand," he said. "It makes sense." "All of it?" asked Abby. "I think so," he said. "I don't think we need fear me forgetting it." "Wonderful," said Abby. Now free from having to remember every last detail Galen had given her, Abby turned her attention to trying to find the minds of Afflicted nearby. "I found the woman, Sigrid. She's here, but she's been turned. In reading her mind, I discovered that there is a lab in a home where your parents have been living. Galen and the other scientists set up a lab in the second kitchen. Sigrid has seen it and she even knows a secret way to get to the place." "Show me the way," said Claude. "I'll get us there." They were soon diving below ground and zooming through the opulent, tiled secret tube that few people knew about. Within a quarter hour, they arrived at the recessed hatch which led to the entrance to the underground mansion. Curiously, the lavish mansion was entirely abandoned. It seemed that once Hypatia had turned the guards, they had abandoned their stations and joined the battles above. The companions were able to walk in unnoticed. Abby could detect no guards anywhere within range. They searched the house until they found the makeshift lab and were shocked and saddened to see the destruction. "Where else?" asked Claude. "Could we raid a hospital, or a pharmacist for supplies?" "I suppose," said Abby. "The frustrating thing is; all we need are some extra vials and syringes. We have the centrifuge and everything else right here." Martin, with his innate curiosity for machines had noticed the safe. Not having anything else to do, he stepped across the fragments of glass and looked down at it. He wondered whether he could sound out the combination. To his surprise, the door swung open at his touch. "My friends," he said. "In here might be what we need." He began removing the contents and placing them on the counter. The tray of vials, standing with shimmering amber contents, was a glistening beacon of hope. Beside it lay Pasteur's medical kit which held the syringes and tubes which might allow them to complete their task. "So," said Claude, "what exactly are we supposed to do?" Abby took a deep breath. "My dear companions," she said. "Galen sent me some curious instructions and I hope you are prepared for what he suggests." She gestured to the entire group. "We are going to become mates." "Who with who?" asked Aimée. "All of us," said Abby. "He communicated that it was dangerous, but he proposed that all of us be mated together, Glennis included. He did not know about Martin, but he did say we would need to include the blood of a mortal. When you consider the words of the prophecy, it makes a great deal of sense." "How?" asked Jacob. "How is it possible that all of us should mate at once? As I understand it, once the first mate's blood takes hold, any cells from another donor are blocked out for at least a few months." "Those are the instructions that are now in Martin's head. Ordinarily, first mating can only happen with one person. However, if we combine our blood we can all be bound at once. Galen only sent me the process without much explanation as to why. His mind seemed to be thinking along the lines that our combined gifts might become the weapon we need against Arnet." Events were moving so rapidly, they didn't have time to debate. They simply knew that it must be done. They agreed on the spot that they should proceed. The Afflicted Ch. 15 "We need six containers," said Martin. "So we should sterilize these seven in the rack and get started." "Wait!" cried Aimée. "Is the fluid in these vials from others of our kind?" "It would appear so," said Abby. "The markings and numbers are the same they use at the lab to identify each donor." "Don't you see!" cried Aimée. "In here is our seventh? One of these is the seventh in the prophecy. We need to take the Afflicted cells from one of these and add it to the mix. What's even worse, the seventh is unknown; just as it is in the prophecy." They stood in bemused silence at the realization. The events in the past days and hours had been unfolding with a startling sense of purpose. That they would find Martin in Paris; that Aimée would feel the need to bring him to them; that the clinic should be guarded and they would find themselves in this place where there were seven vials - all of these were inevitable signs of fate. They were puppets on a great stage. Were their strings being held by the Elders, or someone else, or the universe itself? They couldn't be certain of any answers, but they knew that something had been guiding their lives to this very moment. "So our seventh mate is in one of these vials?" asked Claude. "They are," said Abby. "To make the plot even thicker, we need the other vials to process our own blood. We must choose now." "Do you know who they belong to?" asked Aimée of Abby. "No," said Abby. "Without the ledger, it is impossible to know. Plus, I don't have Madame Villepreux-Power's gift of looking into cells. Our choice will have to be a guess. We also have to realize that the cells in whichever vial will determine someone who will be our mate for life." The six of them stared at the vials, overwhelmed by the implications of their choice. "I say we let Glennis choose," said Jacob. "She has that thing, just a natural ability about her. If anyone can pick the right one, it would be her." "I agree," said Claude. "Go on Glennis. Don't be afraid. Just choose. I'm sure the one you pick will be the correct one." Glennis nodded and held her hand over the vials. She lifted and felt each one. After a few moments of deliberation, she picked one and placed it at the end. "This one," she said. "It just feels right." The decision was made. The cells of their seventh mate waited expectantly in the one vial. The other vials were scrubbed and sterilized with boiling water from the other kitchen. It was now Martin's turn to act. Following the instructions Abby had transmitted to him, he began the careful preparation of drawing the blood and preparing it painstakingly before placing the vials into the centrifuge. The interval while they watched the heavy machine spin was fraught with anxiety and inner conjecture about how this might go, and who their seventh mate might be. Abby sensed the disquiet in her friends and as the machine spun down, she sent out a soothing feeling to each of them. When the centrifuge made its final revolution they were calm and ready for what was to come. Martin's spun blood was 'normal'. There was an upper level of plasma, a narrow 'buffy' coat in the middle, and a dark red layer at the bottom. With the four Afflicted, there were four layers - the amber stripe at the bottom being their target. Glennis also had four layers, white at the top, a buffy coat, a nearly golden layer below that, and then red. Martin carefully extracted the Afflicted amber layers, his central layer, and both of Glennis's middle layers. The contents of all were added to their donor's tube and then the vial was spun once more, forming a multihued, glistening mixture which seemed to scintillate with complementary life. "We should go to a safe place," said Abby. "We don't know what will happen." They retired to a parlor that had several couches. Each person rolled up their sleeve. "Are we prepared for this?" Abby asked. "I know the four of us have been ready to join with each other for some time. Glennis and Martin, this is a huge decision. Do you make it freely?" "I can't speak for Glennis," said Martin, "but as I understand it, this world is at risk. If I can help, I will." Glennis nodded, silently agreeing with his Martin's sentiments. "Very well then," said Abby. "Martin will inject each of us, then me, and finally himself." The syringe was 10 ccs and it was carefully marked. The final product of their combined fluids had come to almost eight. Martin went to each companion and carefully pushed the plunger down putting just a cc into each of them. He finished all but Abby, and using his own eyes, she carefully put his dose into his arm. Last, he injected the empath. When he removed the needle, he carefully set it back in a protective case from Pasteur's bag, knowing that the contents were the most precious thing on earth. They waited a few minutes and it was actually Jacob who felt the effects first. He gasped and began rubbing his arm where he'd gotten the shot. "What's happening?" he asked. "This isn't supposed to feel like this. It feels wrong." "It's the new blood," said Abby calmly. "Especially Glennis's. Your system is fighting it, but it will come around." "Get it out!" he cried. "This is wrong! This is so wrong!" "Jacob, calm yourself," she urged him in her mind. She pushed out powerful, drowsy thoughts to everyone in the room. One by one they collapsed on their couches until it was just her. Anyone else might well have panicked and done harm to themselves. However, Abby had spent her life controlling her own emotions. She was able to remove her thoughts to a quiet place as the conflict within her raged. Soon, she grew sleepy too and fell asleep as her system was transformed. Fifteen minutes or so later, all save Glennis awoke. They looked at each other with a renewed sense of connection, longing, and love. Curiously, the overwhelming lust for mating that came with the blood ceremony was muted. It was there, but not so primal, nor insistent. Each of the boys felt a longing for the girls that was like the ultimate puppy love, a hundred times over, and vice versa with the girls. For those of the same sex, the young men felt they had gained new brothers, for they truly were 'blood brothers'. Abby and Aimée felt the same. They had always loved each other and felt a distinct connection, but now it was at the core of their beings. Claude felt something beyond that. He felt a curious sense of completion beyond those in the room. "Mother," he said, softly. "What do you mean?" asked Aimée. "Our seventh mate. That's who it is." "How do you know?" asked his sister. "The best way I can explain it is that I have lain with mother enough to know what she feels like. When I was inside of her, I could feel her cells speaking to me. Now, they are speaking all of the time, they are singing to us." "This is true," said Jacob. "I was having a hard time putting my finger on it, but that's exactly it. I can feel her there." "Well," said Aimée with a bemused grin. "My mother is now my mate... and the mate of my mates as well." "Does that bother you?" asked Martin. "No, not at all. It is lovely," said Aimée. "It will just take some getting used to. For now, I'm a bit worried about our other new mate. What is going on with Glennis?" All of them looked at Glennis with concern. Abby felt the fair girl's skin and was alarmed at how hot she was burning. "I think it's because she's so different," Abby explained. "Her kind last mixed with the main branch of humanity many thousands of years ago. Though she's human, it seems like her system is fighting with our cells. She might reject us." "What will happen then?" asked Jacob. "She might just be sick and go back to being just 'her', or she might die. Only time will tell." They sat beside her, deeply worried. Aimée retrieved a cold cloth to mop Glennis's forehead as their friend's body fought off what it viewed as intruders. "Isn't there anything we can do?" asked Martin. "I'll try," said Abby. She reached into Glennis's system as well as she could. "It's alright," she said, sending out soothing messages. She could not speak on the cellular level like Pasteur and Jeannie, but she liked to believe her message had some effect. She kept sending out soothing thoughts to every part of Glennis's body. Friends, she kept saying. We are friends. It was perhaps an hour later when Glennis's eyes fluttered open. "Hello, my loves," she said with a smile. They were overjoyed. Hugs and kisses abounded. "Oh my goodness," said Glennis suddenly. "What world is this?" Her question made sense to all of them. The world seemed transformed. It wasn't just that colors were sharper and sounds were clearer. The world was magnified - times six. Everything each of them saw, the others saw, too (except through Abby's eyes, of course). Curiously, it wasn't even confusing. It was as though the entire world was being seen through six sensory lenses and their newly transformed brains were more than capable of processing all of that data. "Wait, let me try something," said Aimée. She furrowed her brow in great concentration, but nothing happened. "Claude, help me please," she said. "I wish to fly." He was several feet from her, but he understood her meaning. With their new connection, he sent instructions, in a way, and her body suddenly knew how. She floated into the air effortlessly. Floating back down, she landed. She had never been able to do such a thing before. Claude had always needed to touch her to extend his flying gift. "Now, stop telling me," she said. He did, severing the secret connection with his sister's system. She could no longer do it. It seemed they could connect in some way - like flipping a switch on a train track - and they could give each other their abilities but it wasn't permanent. Not yet, at least. They had to will their separate skills to each of their companions. Martin wondered; he was newly Afflicted, what might his skills be? He reached out with his senses, and there it was. Everything, everywhere, made sense. He could see every gear in the clocks on the walls. He could see the water flowing below the house and through pipes. He reached out with his mind and turned the faucet in a bathtub on and off. Next, he decided to look into Aimée. He saw everything. He saw her heart and her lungs. He saw her breasts and her sexual organs. He saw the lovely nerve pathways stretching out and connecting them all. He looked even closer. He saw cells. He saw each membrane, each nucleus, each ribosome - everything. Abby sensed his probing and she was unable to hide her alarm. Everyone felt her emotions and knew her thoughts at once. She relayed the clockmaker's history to Martin quickly. "No," he said aloud. "I will never do that. Never. Let's be clear. Even if it means we can't overcome Arnet, I will never take a life in that way." They nodded. They were bound to him and knew he was speaking the truth. "What should we do?" asked Jacob. "I think we should wait," said Claude. "It is about an hour until daylight. We should rest here today. Learn our new skills, and form a rescue party tomorrow." "No," said the mysterious voice once more. "The Elders grow impatient. It must be now. Tomorrow you will all be lost." "Who are you?" asked Abby. There was no reply. "Tonight it is, then," said Claude. "We could fly, but that will eat precious time." "We'll jump," said Aimée. "But where, I'm not sure." "Let me get a fix," said Abby. She reached out with her mind and was stunned to find that distance was suddenly no issue. Perhaps it was her strength mixed with Aimée's. Before they had mated, Aimée could jump anywhere in the world as long as she could get a fix. Now, Abby's senses could do the same. It was like Aimée's jumping ability had meshed with her own empath ability. She had been able to sense Jacob or Claude from great distances due to her intimacy and love for them. Abby now realized she could push her mind to Japan if she wished, and pick out the thoughts of a complete stranger. Using this new ability, she scanned past thousands upon thousands of minds until landing on one familiar to her. "It is Anders," she said. "He's standing guard outside the place they call Lyndhurst. I'm looking through his eyes and there is a meadow nearby. Aimée, can you see it?" "Yes, Abby," said Aimée. "It is very clear in my mind." "Are we ready?" asked Claude. "We're ready," said Glennis in a calm and confident tone. The voice didn't seem to place any restrictions on deplacing now, so they jumped. An instant later they were standing in a quiet grove. Lyndhurst was just beyond. Aimée felt the start of a pop. Though they weren't even physically connected, she whisked them out again. They were back at the underground mansion. "What happened?" asked Martin. "Jumpers, they... wait, they are coming!" She deplaced them again, this time to the factory they had sabotaged. Several people, busy with repairs, looked up in surprise and started toward them. "They're tracking us!" cried Aimée. "Fly! We have to fly!" Claude lifted them all, guiding them, and whisked them out through an open window. The factory was in a warehouse just outside of Lyndhurst. An alarm claxon went off and several fliers on the ramparts immediately took to the air. Claude took them higher and higher. An aerial battle was soon underway. The companions were at a clear disadvantage. They could all fly now, so long as they were connected to Claude's mind. That was the easy part. The hard part was none of them had been trained for flight combat except Claude. Abby was able to obscure some of their pursuers minds, but more and more opponents took to the air and any protection she could give them was soon diminished because of the numbers. They climbed higher and higher, being pursued by growing numbers. Looking down, they saw that the skirmish had moved out over the river. Jacob, Claude, and Aimée placed their friends in the middle and moved outside of them, circling warily as Arnet's followers moved in. Abby became alarmed when she sensed the approach of Franz. He was being flown toward them by Oppo. Reaching into their thoughts, she knew they were carrying a portable dampener and Franz would soon have the crippling beam pointed at them. She passed on this information to the companions. They exchanged worried looks as they saw the inventor's hand raise and reach for the trigger. A moment later, Franz watched with satisfaction as the six enemies crumbled under the effects of his dampening beam and went tumbling toward the river below. * * * * Thanks, as always, for reading. Votes, comments, and favorites are always appreciated.