Sacha didn't bother looking up from her book . "She's not here." Sacha sighed he was pacing always a bad sign. Michael stopped in front of where she was seated his voice was low and tense "do you know what she did to me last night?" She turned the page," No but knowing her,she must have felt justified." "Sacha where is she? She's in over her head. I got a phone call today no names but I can guess who and I'm sure you can as well.They know she went to the University and they know she's rattling cages looking for the girl.As far as I can tell though their still not sure how much she knows about Quigley." Sacha voiced her suspicion,"you knew all along what they were planning didn't you?" Michael walked to the bay window "I suspected the probability of such a plan once I read Professor Maseo's article cataloging his sucess on lab animals.I did some caculations and projected how long before he would want to use humans subjects." Sacha stood snapping her book closed in exasperation. "Raine can take care of herself" Michael turned and looked searchingly at her face,"normally I'd agree with you but with Karen involved I don't think she's even worried about herself." Sacha shrugged. He took a deep breath "please help me where is she?" Sacha laid the book down and walked over to where he stood. "I don't know truely."Sacha paused consideringly,"my best guess is watch the University she doesn't have as much faith in them as Karen did and with Karen missing I'd say she'll be watching them closely.If they don't stop the attempt on Maseo she'll try to stop it herself." Michael took a deep breath and relaxed muscles he hadn't even been aware were tensed."Thanks Sacha". He headed to the door "Michael! She wont willingly let you help her even if she wants help and if you fail she wont give you another chance so don't make me regret this."Michael nodded,"I understand." He stood in the shadows watching the building Ed Tate entered earlier it wasn't long after that a movement at the side of the building signaled Raine's entrance finally he thought with grim satisfaction we can end this craziness.The sound of a car door drew his attention to a man exiting his car and heading into the building.He recognized Attwood from the news cast he had done earlier announcing their discovery. He was almost in the building when a limo pulled up Attwood hesitated a moment then approached as the glass rolled down showing the woman within. Their conversation was brief and Attwoods visiable reluctance aroused his suspicions moving closer he mentally probed. A derisive smile flickered across his face it was as he figured the goverment was holding Karen as an bargaining chip until they could find out how she got her information.If she hadn't told them already then they were probably real anxious to get their hands on Karen's mysterious friend more than they wanted to hang onto Karen. The limo pulled away and he watched as Attwood entered the building.It was time to even the odds a bit.Michael took out his cell phone. "Do me a favor Cy"."Michael?" "Yes.I need a plate run.Yes I know its goverment just do it." "Man are you nuts?The goverment isn't a problem or what worries me." "If it was going to be easy would I have called you." "Your going after that chick aren't you?" "In case you haven't noticed Raine can fight her own battles." "I wanna know whose seen it lately anywhere it doesn't belong. Its alright just keep it between us." "I don't know man hiding it from the others is going to be tricky." "I know but do it anyway if it does come out I'll handle it." "Ok man its your party." "Just call me as soon as you got an address." Ed, Sloan, and Tom were discussing last nites revelations. Sloan gestured toward the computer "if what Professor Maseo is proposing with this serum accurate think of the advances we could make given the chance." "Yes."Tom nodded, "and think about how determined this will make Lewis and the others to eliminate any possible threat." "You know.. Ed reached for another slice of pizza, "we only use 10% of the human brain if Maseo is right he's found a way to increase the use of the brain at least 30 to 40% who knows given time maybe more." "Its unlikely", Walter entered the room setting down his briefcase. "Walter?" Sloan watched his movements what do you mean? "I made some discreet calls I found that Maseo's trip to the Yucatan was a empty gesture from the college to a loyal but somewhat excentric Professor." Ed glanced at the others."So you think theres nothing to all this?" Attwood was silent a moment."Its highly unlikely." "I thought you might reach that conclusion,Raine said from the doorway so I paid a visit to Professor Maseo's home." She came in the room laying the papers on the desk. Ed jumped up,"has there been any word about Karen?" Raine shook her head then resumed her previous topic,"Maseo is further ahead than he's admitting yes the plant is rare but he's found a company that is interested enough in the pay off that they consider synthesizing it a viable option." Sloan asked,"and this formula here at the bottom is that his work?" Raine frowned,"no thats what you need to find an antidote for,thats how they plan on killing him. And they don't care how many they kill along with him to put an end to his experiment." " How can they be sure with his work backed up on discs it would be a simple matter for someone else to continue his work"Tom asked? Raine shrugged"its simple because they know he doesn't back up his work he has hand written notes in a safe. Stop him and it ends, there would be no one else with access to his notes except for these I copied." "Still.. Walter gestured dismissingly, theres no proof that theres anything to his theory." "True,Tom said but you can't afford to take the chance." "Walter their going to poison an entire school" Sloan added.Ed looked up from the formula,"this is going to take time I don't even recognize most of this.We're going to need some help on this." Raine grimaced,"its known the Alchemist is a genius with chemicals you have your work cut out for you." "The Alchemist??" Sloan prompted."Tom can you help us any?" Tom looked grim, rumors only there were always rumors.Thats really all we ever heard him called theres nothing I know that could be of use to us now." Raine nodded, "I've heard Lewis kept his bunch on a tight leash.My friend that got me this didn't even want to go near this one.If this stuff gets out you'll have a real nitemare on your hands." Walter stood,"ok I can make some calls get some people working on this see what they can do but theres very little time." Sloan looked at the woman we still don't even know her name or why she's helping us she thought. "Is there anything else you can tell us?Can you help us?" She studied Sloan she could understand why Daniels trusted her,she closed her eyes and sent up a silent prayer please let them stop this in time. "I've told you all I know except this, maybe it will help maybe not,on Monday a company delivers paper and office supplies to the school.The paper this time is going to be treated with a chemical that has some pretty permament results." "A call intercepting the truck would stop them" Attwood offered. Tom shook his head,"only temporarily." "The formula for this is still out there you need the antidote" Raine concluded. Tom nodded,"if we don't they'll use it again." The silence was disturbed by a muffled ring.Michael reached in his jacket. "Yes." "Ok man here it is better hurry though seems like they plan on moving her later tonite." "Thanks I owe you." "You bet you do, later man and be careful." Michael punched in another number. "Do me a favor go to this address and pick up the woman there make sure no one is permanently damaged he paused...this time.And then take her to her apt, stay with her until I get there.Call me when its done," he closed his phone and headed into the building. The security guard glanced up from the desk bored welcoming the distraction,unease whispered across the back of his neck when he got a good look at the man walking toward him. "I'm sorry but its after hours and you'll have to return tomorrow morning." "Of course," Michael murmured.Then his hand flashed out grabbing the man's windpipe. "Now I really don't have time to do something final however.. If you insist?Are you insisting??" The man frantically shook his head. "Good now over there" he gestured. The man turned heading to the supply closet he started to turn when he was grabbed he stuggled but the man was stronger and he felt himself growing light headed Michael continued the pressure to the carotid artery until he passed out.Closing the door he glanced casually around searching for more guards or security cameras.Seeing camera's he walked to the desk deactivating the monitors. Having done that he focused his energies toward finding who else was in the building he found two of his kind one of them who he had come for.Good Raine's still here and apparently to distracted to shield herself.He reached the labs and heard muffled voices from one of the offices heading toward it he knew the element of surprise was just about to end.He could make out Attwood's voice clearly and paused a moment to listen as Attwood talked about an antidote for the poison. Michael flinched Raine had been busy since she left his house keeping her involvement a secret was going to be difficult.He was almost to the hallway when they sensed him he heard the woman Dr Parker he assumed ask Raine for more help.Tom's gazed sharpened and he turned toward the outer hallway.Just as Raine stiffened and turned a look of anger flickered across her face but just as swiftly went blank. The others in the room noticing their reactions suddenly stopped talking and looked at them curiously. His silhouette filled the doorway. His voice was low but it carried to the others in the room,"I think you have gotten enough from her for tonite." Stepping into the room, he glanced at each one in the room,his gaze resting on Daniels a moment longer than the rest before he finally focused his attention on Raine. "We need to leave now."Raine lifted her chin "NO." Michael stepped closer. "The longer your with them the harder it will be to hide your involvement in helping them."Raine shrugged. Sloan got up out of her chair, she noticed he sensed her movement instead of seeing it for all his attention was focused on the young woman in front of him. "Would that be so terrible saving innocent people,"Sloan asked. Michael glanced from Raine to Sloan. She noticed he seemed to be in his 30's his hair was long shoulder length and loose it so black it seemed to have blue glints in the light,he had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen and they were focused on her now sharp and probing. Just when she thought he would ignore her all together his gaze turned back to meet Raine's. "No saving children is never a waste.But all the risks seem to be a bit one sided.Have you forgotten Karen so quickly then?" Raine's glared,"you know I haven't." Ed worried ran his hand thru his hair,"maybe some of Lewis's people grabbed her." Michael gaze lifted from Raine's "its probable,he's more than capable and he's perceptive enough to know its one of the few ways to nuetralize the threat he perceives from certain quarters.However in this case its not a factor." "You told me you didn't know anything about Karen's disappearance" Raine accused."I didn't until I made it my business to know.I'm guilty of many things but I refuse to let you think I'm responsible for someone else's sick mind." She unthinkingly grabbed his hand, "Michael where is she?Is she all right?" He looked down at her small hand it was the first time she had willing initiated any contact at all with him.He covered it with his other hand slowly started stroking it with his thumb. "Lets go we can talk about this elsewhere"he looked significantly at the others in the room. "No now I need to know now please.Ok I called"...the ringing of his cellphone interrupted whatever he was about to say. "Yes? Good" Michael's tone held satisfaction. "We're on our way now.Make sure it stays that way untill I get there." Michael closed his phone.And reached for her to guide her out. "We need to leave now" Ed rose as if to stop him.Michael pinned him with a look."Don't.So far no one has anything to regret"without taking his eyes from Ed. "Attwood if you think you can reach that gun before I reach you try.There are at least a hundred ways to get rid of people irritating me and I'm well versed in them all.I'd hate to think an intelligent man like you requires a demonstration." The ringing of the phone interupted yet no one moved. Reaching for the phone Michael passed him the receiver,"you'll want to take this call.I imagine its the blonde in the limo telling you that your guest has left the accomodations you provided and now she's decided taking your misguided good samaritan here is a matter of some ergency." "Michael? what"...Raine trailed off. Attwood took the phone."Yes.. I see.That is unfortunate." "I understand but that solution may not be viable.Of course .." He closed the phone and cleared his throat. "My god Walter you let them take that woman. How could you?" Walter looked at Sloan "it was felt that the situation was serious enough that some leverage would be a good idea in the event the young woman changed her mind about assisting us.It was out of my hands,there was nothing I could do." Raine looked at them she knew deep down that they were capable of this but still a small part of her felt betrayed.Tom looked grim, she felt for him he had openly cast his lot with these people and he couldn't trust anyone but Sloan.Sloan looked bewildered it wasn't hard to see she was really out of her depth in all this.Ed looked disgusted and embarassed. Michael touched her shoulder pulling her from her thoughts. "Lets go theres nothing more to be done here".She nodded.They moved to the door. "Wait I know you have no reason in the world to believe me but I'm so sorry this happened."Raine turned to look at Sloan it was obvious she was sincere.Raine nodded. "You know the reasons haven't changed we could still use your help.Think about it please."She glanced up at Michael his face was a mask but it wasn't hard knowing what he felt.She looked at Tom and nodded,refusing to even look at Attwood as she turned to leave. "Please..Ed paused not sure how he felt only knowing it mattered have Karen call me to let me know she's alright".Raine smiled but it hel such a regret,"that I can do that." She reached the door when he said "go on ahead I'll catch up."She opened her mouth to protest but stopped she stared searchingly into his violet eyes.For once she didn't hide herself everything she felt and thought was there for him.Squeezing his hand she sighed.."Thank you." He slowly raised his hand, reaching for a strand of hair that escaped her braid.He moved cautiously even now incase his actions caused her to emotionally back away from him her hair was soft as silk he slid it thru his fingers stopping before he released it he lifted it to his lips rubbing the strands across them before tucking it behind her ear. A soft flush covered her cheeks,Michael smiled ruefully "go"... She glanced back at the people in the room once more then left as silently as she had come. Michael watched her leave, when he turned his face was shuttered and his tone was calm but deadly it left no doubt in anyones mind he meant everything he said. "Theres not much of a difference between us and humans after all is there Attwood."You'll do anything and use anyone to survive.I can respect that. "However Let me make myself clear so theres no misunderstandings.If she disappears and I find out you or any of your people are connected theres not a hole big enough on this planet you can hide. I don't care who or what you are Attwood or who you work for. "You play games with her life and there wont be enough of you left to catalog or identify." Michael laughed with a hint of malice,"No I know what your thinking and it wont be enough. If something happens to her and your responsible or knew I'll go thru Daniels or anyone else I have to get you and I give you my word I wont stop until your in hell." He inclined his head "I wish you luck." He walked past Sloan then stopped he looked down coming to a decision.Then reaching in his pocket he took out a card,"go to this address if you can get him to talk to you tell him I sent you he may help you with an antidote. He's unconventional but he's brillant and crazy enough to not understand the meaning of can't be done." He was almost to the door when she found the prescence of mind to thank him.He stopped. "Don't thank me its for the children." "And Raine,I did it for Raine." She glanced down at the the card, Raine she repeated under her breath. Now she had a name to go along with the face.When she looked up again he was gone.She wanted to take the time and think about what she had learned tonite but she knew she didn't have that luxury.So she sighed mentally braced herself and turned preparing herself to find a way to help them stop a mad man yet again.
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