Project Genesis

by Howard, Michelle

  Chapter 16

  Helen pushed fear to the back of her mind. Vin needed her. She roared up to the only available parking spot which luckily was in the front of the glass plated door of the gas station. She hit the brakes hard and slammed the gear in park. Vin’s body jolted from the sudden motion and his head wobbled on his shoulders.

  Leaning over the seat, she touched his forehead. His skin was burning hot. Her hand drifted down Vin’s neck where his pulse tapped hard on her fingers. Further down, she encountered his soaking wet shirt.

  “I’m going in the store to get bandages, pain killers…” Helen strained her thoughts to remember what the doctors on the medical TV dramas always called out for but truthfully she never had a reason to pay attention.

  Vin unfortunately didn’t answer. Helen locked the door behind her and rushed inside the well lit interior. The clerk behind the counter waved at her while he rung up another customer in line. Helen read the signage hanging from chain links in the ceiling and aimed for aisle number four.

  She grabbed an empty red basket from the floor and randomly tossed in alcohol, peroxide, a bag of cotton balls, gauze, then moved down the shelves and snatched up several brands of pain relievers. Helen bounced on one foot to the other when she got to the front. The line of customers had increased to six.

  A check out the window at least reassured her that Vin still sat upright in her car blond head tilted at an awkward angle. The line shuffled forward. Nerves pulled taut, Helen inched along, the basket swinging along her hip. Her heart raced a thousand miles an hour, she wanted to hurry back out to Vin.

  The older man at the register with thinning hair frowned when he heard his total. Slowly, he began the process of putting stuff on the side and asking to cancel certain items. Helen viewed a bottle water being left behind, a box of animal crackers but he kept the can of formula and a travel pack of wipes. Another person sighed impatiently, causing the poor man to shrug his frail shoulders and offer a weak smile.

  Someone bumped Helen’s shoulder and the basket tipped dangerously to the side. Expecting a routine apology, she was caught off guard by another hard shove in the back and then screams. The clerk shouted and pointed while frantically climbing over the counter. Helen turned looking for the threat even as panic sent a surge of adrenaline through her bloodstream.

  The lights in the parking lot created overlapping shadows in the furthest section. A Rekabian approached with its oddly balanced gait. Its sinuous neck swung back and forth, the mouth opening with rapid clicks. There were five other cars in the main area of the small parking lot and the Rekabian kicked and banged each one after peering inside.

  It made its way to the cars on the front row in clear view of the store. Her white cayenne and a blue mini.

  Customers shouted and a few ran outside the store. The clerk cleared the door first, drawing the alien’s attention. Helen waited for laser fire or for the creature to charge him. Instead, it continued to search the vehicles. In dawning horror, she realized why it searched. Or rather for who.

  “Oh, no.” She hurried toward the door, eyes flying to her now empty car. Empty. Helen burst through the door and crouched low. The Rekabian smashed a fist through the window of an electric car and squealed loudly.

  “I’ve called the police,” someone shouted waving their cell phone at the alien.

  Helen quelled the ridiculous impulse to laugh at his stupidity and then stopped in her tracks when the Rekabian pulled the door by its hinge to reveal a crying baby. A toddler really. The little one screamed loudly, tears running down a red face as she presented an easy target strapped in the car seat.

  “Get away from her!”

  The old man in the red sweater from the store shuffled down the sidewalk heading straight for the car. Fear increased his already aged features as he hobbled with his elderly gait toward danger. Helen dropped the basket and joined him running to the innocent child, no question in her mind that it was his car and the baby had been entrusted in his care.

  “Hey, ugly!” She clapped her hands together, wanting the Rekabian’s attention on her and not the child.

  ***

  Vin’s instincts warned him minutes before his eyes snapped open. He looked in the side view mirror at the Rekabian on a search mission. The creature's actions as it kicked on cars and banged on doors proved it was clearly looking for Vin. Somehow trailing him to this store.

  Vin opened Helen’s passenger side door and eased out. A wave of dizziness crashed over him, leaving him blinking into the starry night. Vin shook it off and reached for his thigh holster. He didn’t have his G32 but his sidearm would give him some sort of defense. Shifting away from the vehicle, Vin circled back until he’d maneuvered behind the alien. Things were going fine. Then the screaming started from inside the store. Someone had spotted the Rekabian.

  Customers flooded out into the parking lot, ruining Vin’s line of sight. His mind flew through several scenarios as he planned on how to end the deadly alien without hurting anyone else when he heard Helen’s voice call out, “Hey, ugly!”

  Vin’s already pounding heart surged and terror countered the weakness in his limbs. ‘Damn it, hellcat. Why don’t you ever stay put?’

  He must have unintentionally broadcast the thought to her in his weakened state because her dark head shifted and began searching the parking lot. Vin stayed hidden behind the mini car. No need to give away his position since the creature lifted its head and mimicked her move looking around. For him.

  Clicks and squeals followed. The cry of a child sent an old man lunging toward the car and diving inside, Helen on his heels. The Rekabian held no weapon in his clawed hand and seemed confused. It kept arching its neck back and forth between Helen and the old guy then turning to the almost vacant lot.

  Vin tensed the minute he realized the alien’s decision. Jumping to his feet he yelled, “Helen, move. Now!”

  Her head jerked in his direction but bless her beautiful ass, she didn’t hesitate. She turned on the sidewalk and ran toward the sound of Vin’s voice. She leaned down and grabbed something on her way. The Rekabian roared and jumped on the hood of the car to the left of Helen. She dodged its frantic swipe, legs churning and not looking back.

  Vin stood out from behind the car he’d used as a shield and aimed his gun. The Rekabian suddenly lifted its own weapon but instead of pointing it in Vin’s direction, it cocked its head to the side, silently watching Vin then Helen then back toward Vin before aiming for Helen’s back.

  “No,” Vin shouted, rushing forward. He activated his battle armor though he knew its deteriorated condition would provide meager protection since it was damaged in his earlier fight. Vin reached Helen, hooking an arm around her heaving waist and slammed them both to the ground. His helmet auto released and covered his head a second later.

  Helen’s breath hoofed out as he covered her with his body and tucked his head in close to hers. Laser fire hit directly in the middle of his back. The armor held the first time and the second as the creature continue to blast away but it gave on the third strike. Fire burned down Vin’s back and he couldn’t muffle his groan.

  Helen cried out but he kept her down. The ground shook as the creature jumped from the car and began running toward them. Vin counted off in his head. He had one chance to make this right.

  “Stay still, hellcat,” he murmured above Helen before leaping to his feet when the Rekabian was exactly where he expected. Vin fired until his gun whirled, signaling an empty charge.

  The Rekabian jerked but its headlong flight didn’t stop. It got close to Vin and wrapped its lanky arms around Vin’s waist, squeezing for all he was worth.

  “Shit” Vin wheezed as already bruised ribs screamed for mercy. Using the last bit of energy he had, Vin summoned his electrical charge, knowing he was going to regret it but he didn’t want to die today.

  Sizzling heat shot from deep inside of him and Vin hugged the Rekabian back, pouring every bit of juice he had into the now squealing
alien. Electricity arced between them, lighting up the night. It fell to the ground with a crash, taking Vin with him and the air filled with the smell of eggs left out too long in the sun.

  “Vin.” Helen came up behind him her hands patting the smoking armor on his back.

  Vin deactivated his helmet and the armor though it was now damaged beyond repair. He climbed to his feet. “I’m okay.” Spots danced in an odd halo display around her concerned face. Dancing spots on everything.

  “You fool. You stupid, stupid fool.” Helen slapped at his arms crying.

  Vin curled an arm around her waist and forced his next words through numb lips. “Get me to the car, baby.” His temples hammered out a beat warning of impending disaster.

  Helen dragged half carried his dead weight to the car but Vin managed to get himself in once she had the cayenne door open. She ran around the other side, climbed in then tossed a red basket at his feet.

  “Tell me where to go, Vin.”

  Vin rattled off the address and the closest exit before rolling down the window and vomiting. When he leaned back in his seat, the world spun around him. Helen called his name but once again darkness swallowed him.

  ***

  Helen drove like there were demons on her heels. Her foot mashed the pedal to the floor and her high performance vehicle responded. With terror as her motivator, she pulled up to the gates of Vin’s Command Center in thirty minutes, surprised police hadn’t pulled her over from her manic race to get here.

  At the gate two, guards rushed toward the driver’s side window, guns out. Helen released the steering wheel, her hands shot in the air. “Don’t shoot, please.”

  “Top security clearance only. You need to turn around.” The soldier’s lips pressed tight together and the one next to him murmured into a small mic attached to the headset he wore.

  Considering she probably looked half crazed, Helen forgave him. “No, I need to see…” She nibbled her bottom lip and considered which name would get her in fastest. “Harkum,” she blurted. “It’s an emergency.”

  The first guard kept his weapon aimed directly at her and peered through the interior of her car. “Is that Michaels?” Dark eyes widened and the weapon lowered slightly.

  “Yes, he’s hurt and needs help, he’s bleeding,” she rushed out.

  The second guard ran around to the passenger side and tapped Vin’s face. He spoke into his headset with urgent whispers.

  “Drive to the door, ma’am. Doctors will meet you there.”

  Relief left her hands shaking but she managed to drive to the designated spot and park half over the yellow lines. Four men in white lab coats and white jumpsuits came running out with a battery powered stretcher levitating between them. Helen was ignored as they pulled Vin out and placed him on the bed.

  Helen followed, half walking half running when she heard Vin.

  “Wait. Scan for tracker,” he gasped out, breath rattling.

  She didn’t know what he meant but one of the men in white ran a box down his torso and legs. He cursed and leaned over Vin’s chest. The box beeped loudly. Another handed him a slim metal rod which he aimed at Vin chest. A buzz sounded then fizzled.

  “Looks like you were right. The gouge in your chest had some sort of micro tracer implanted.”

  Vin turned his head and their eyes met.

  Helen tried to smile but something wet plopped on her chin.

  “C’mere.” He raised his trembling arm. She’d never witnessed him so unsteady. Helen grabbed his hand, grateful for the contact.

  The men in white started to protest but Vin growled, “She stays.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Helen choked in relief but the feeling was short lived. Vin’s eyes rolled up in his head and the man at his side yelled, “We’re losing him!”

  Vin’s body began to jerk on the bed, his hand clenching hard enough to have Helen wincing. His head tipped to the side, muscles straining in his throat and teeth bared. The doctors jostled her, their panicked actions stressing the urgency of the situation. Their jog beside the transporter bed turned into a mad dash inside the building.

  The skin of Vin’s face paled as the spasm faded and his fingers loosened on hers. “No.” Helen grasped frantically to hold him to her as tears poured down her cheeks.

  They entered a room with medical equipment and hurried to a corner where another doctor waited. He must have been in charge because he rapped out commands and the others followed.

  “Stand by.” The one who found the tracker said right before jabbing Vin with a huge needle in the chest.

  Helen choked off a scream as Vin’s body arched up from the bed but two of the men held him down. Color rushed in Vin’s cheek and his breathing eased.

  “W-what did you do to him?”

  “Healing agent. It will speed up his recovery since his energy’s depleted.”

  Chapter 17

  Tears and mucus. Helen wiped her face refusing to let Vin’s hand go. The doctor frowned in her direction but continued to maneuver around her to treat the wound on Vin’s upper arm and shoulder. Blood stained his white tee shirt in a widening path. The doctor cut the fabric away, revealing the jagged blistering wound. Dark spots winked in her vision.

  “Steady, hellcat.” Vin’s fingers squeezed her own.

  A large needle pierced his flesh a moment later. Helen winced and swayed on her feet. How many needles did a person need? Vin jerked away from the doctor and caught her around the waist. Helen pushed back. “I’m fine. You’re the one hurt.” Because of her. Like a fool, he’d covered her body and now had these hideous laser burns on his back to show for it when he was already injured.

  “You shouldn’t have jumped over me.”

  “It aimed for your head. You think I’d stand around while you died on me?”

  The rough growl of his words wavered between anger and amusement.

  “Excuse me, I need to have Michaels lay back so I can better treat his injury.”

  Helen’s hand clenched. She couldn’t let Vin go. Her mind kept replaying the moment in her head over and over again as the alien’s weapon fired on them and he wrapped his arms around her head and shoulders, completely protecting her body from harm.

  “I’m not moving.”

  Vin chuckled and reclined on the bed, tugging Helen across his chest. “Might as well get it done.”

  Helen cuddled on his chest, listening to the reassuring thumps of his heart. The doctor sent the others away and tried to kick Helen out but after her glare, he’d left her alone. The healing agent was amazing and had Vin revived in minutes. Helen hoped to never see Vin like that again. Ever.

  Instruments clinked in the background. Vin hissed, his arms closing tight around her. Helen turned her head enough to give doctor a warning look. “He’s already hurt.”

  “Easy, Helen. I’m fine. Promise.”

  Helen continued to watch the doctor use vials to fill needles.

  “She’ll have to move after this last shot, Vin. I need to treat your back with the plasti-heal strips.”

  Helen wished she’d had plasti-heal strips when Vin arrived at her house. Her cheeks warmed when she thought of the basic supplies in her car. None of it would have been sufficient to treat the extent of his injuries.

  “Up, Helen.”

  She stood, careful of his injuries but sticking close to the bed as he rolled over onto his stomach. Vin balanced his chin on his arms as the doctor removed the rest of his ruined shirt. The flesh was burned with folds of skin and bright red discoloration.

  “Dr. Franklin Chase meet Helen Scott.”

  “Hello,” she murmured. The good doctor didn’t look pleased to meet her.

  “You’re sure my team is fine,” Vin asked, glancing at the doctor.

  “Returning shortly, according to Slade. They refused to come back until they had confirmation of your whereabouts.”

  “Injuries?” Vin asked.

  It was just like him to be concerned for others when he c
ould barely stand an hour ago. Unable to resist, Helen ran her hands through the light strands of his hair.

  “Bangs and scrapes according to Harkum.”

  The muscles in Vin’s back relaxed. Helen started to relax as well until the door to the medical room opened and Slade entered, wearing a fierce frown, brows pulled down in a V and mouth curled in a snarl.

  “What the hell, Michaels? First I get reports your team is attacked, then you separate and take off after one of the fleeing aliens and end up missing”

  Helen positioned herself between Vincent and David Slade. She heard the covers crinkle behind her as Vin sat up beside her. Chest bare and wearing only his pants, her breath caught. Dark blue bruising colored his upper torso but the large cuts already looked half healed. The doctor had mentioned something about his ribs but Vin didn’t drag out each breath any more leaving her to assume he’d healed those as well.

  Was it natural to recover so quickly after the severity of his injuries? Or was this part of the special abilities he’d reluctantly disclosed and the “healing agent”, she’d never heard of.

  Vin grasped the back of Helen’s shirt and tugged her completely to the side. “You sent us to deal with the second Rekabian sighting in Baltimore. There were six aliens terrorizing the neighborhood. We responded and defended the area after confirming the civilians reached the safety of their homes. Two Rekabians tried to run but Harkum tackled the first and I ran after the second.”

  ***

  Vin loved Helen’s attempt to defend him. Every action tonight indicated she still had feelings for him. He didn’t deserve it after the way he left her the last time but Vin wanted to kiss the ground in thanks.

  Slade, however, didn’t seem the least impressed with Vin’s accounting of the attack or Helen’s presence.

  “You chased one of the aliens? Without back-up?” Slade’s tone raised in volume with each question.

  Vin sighed and climbed to his feet the floor shifting under his boots. “Their behavior was suspicious, sir.” Vin frowned, replaying the events in his head. “It was almost as if they were waiting for us to arrive. All previous attacks were in major cities and human presence was accidental. This time they went to a neighborhood, scared some people and when Alpha Squad arrived, they began to attack in earnest.”