Impact: Regenesis Part 31

"How on earth am I going to learn how to fly?" asked Ian.

"Jump off a cliff," Coop joked.

"Ha ha." Ian paused for a moment and then told them that they needed to keep his secret between the three of them. "Don't even tell Jordan about this, alright?"

"Sure."

"Yeah."

"Seriously, I don't want anyone else to know. And I'm going to have to talk to Jordan, because you two weren't supposed to hear about this yet."

"We swear," Wally promised.

"Yeah. Now," Coop put his arm around Ian, "You've gotta take baby steps until you know all of what you can do."

Ian pushed him off, "Yeah, thanks."

"Seriously," Wally started, "You have to learn to control the voltage, otherwise you might kill someone."

"And how do you suggest I do that?"

"Start by trying to jumpstart my hybrid," Coop joked.

2:35 PM.

Baltimore, Maryland Repair work on the parking lot was still in the final stages since the attack the previous week. Fortunately the station wasn't damaged too greatly, so aside from the limited access of their lot everything continued to run smoothly. A general cover story about a ruptured pipe hushed media attention, though officers outside of the Cladis investigative team doubted the validity.

Detective Felton walked into Ryan's office, shut the door, and took a seat in a chair adjacent to Chief Johnson. The chief had his hand over his face, a file in his lap, and hardly took notice of the Detective's entry.

"Commissioner Schmitt wants a full report come Monday," the Chief told him. "I'm not sure why he wants it exactly, but I can't imagine it's good."

"He can't just shut it down. There's an obvious threat here in Baltimore and we can't just ignore it. Cladis isn't going to stop killing people if we stop looking for him."

Johnson agreed. "Y'know, some of the others are asking about the case," he told Felton.

"What did you say?"

"I told them that there was no case until Schmitt says so."

"I take it they didn't like that too much?"

"No, most were absolutely fine with it."

Felton scowled and muttered, "It's a grim thought that our own are turning their backs on what they're supposed to stand for."

"I don't think that's it Chuck," Johnson began.

"Then what is it?"

"I don't think they believe we can stop him. I've already had two people ask for transfers in the past week. They're scared as h.e.l.l that they might be next, and they don't even know who's behind all of the deaths."

Someone knocked on the door and broke their conversation. Johnson told them to enter and Officers Maguire and Hendricks, and Sergeant Geoff Murdock walked in. The three officers had a few sc.r.a.pes, bandages, and Mia's wrist was in a cast, but all in all they survived the attack on Mario Evanston.

"What can I do for all of you?"

The sergeant started, "We want to be on the case."

The chief rubbed his eyes and sighed, "I would love you let you all on, but there are a few issues with that. First off, this investigation is pending until we get the okay from Commissioner Schmitt to continue. Secondly, Maguire and Hendricks don't take cases. I have no issue with you signing up Geoff, but they don't have any prior work on a single case and they're not even past their one year mark.

Sergeant Murdock nodded, "Then at least explain to all of us what the h.e.l.l's going on."

"I read on REFOIA that this Cladis guy's killed over ten people and that you guys said he might have super powers," Maguire interjected. "Is that true?"

"I'd say so," Mia Hendricks mumbled, "Considering what happened last week."

Felton stopped them and asked Johnson, "What does it hurt if we tell them?"

"If we told them they'd just try to get involved."

"Um, excuse me sir," Mia cut in. She showed them her damaged wrist and told him they were already involved.

Johnson apologized and told them he wouldn't say anything about it.

Sergeant Murdock let out a breath and nodded. "Y'know, there was another reason I came to talk to you sir," he told the chief. "Apparently Jenna Bell has one of the crescent scars on her wrist."

Both Felton and Johnson asked what he meant in unison.

"I happened to be down talking with some of the guys in forensics about an unrelated case," he started.

"I'm sure you were," Johnson sighed.

"One of the guys down there happened to notice the mark on Bell, a mark that wasn't present when she was brought in. I happened to notice that mark on a few of the victims on Sage's wall a few days before the incident with Evanston. From what I understand"

Another officer interrupted the group's discussion, "Sir, something's wrong down in the morgue. Detective Sage's and Jenna Bell's bodies are gone."

Johnson glowered, "What do you mean?"

"They are missing and no one signed them out or came for them," the officer reported.

The officer asked if Johnson wanted him to stay but the Chief only told him to leave. Johnson looked at the four of them and reluctantly told said, "There isn't any investigation, do you understand me?" He walked over to Sage's desk, retrieved a set of keys from his pocket, unlocked a drawer in his desk, dropped the file he held in his hands on Sage's desk, and walked out of the room.

Felton grinned and stood up from his seat to instruct them. "We're already running on a rather cold trail," he told them, "It's already been two days since Detective Sage and Jenna Bell were killed, which means..." he opened the file and found a piece of scratch paper with the numbers four, six, five, five, eight, two, one, and nine written on it, counted back through the list of victims to learn where they were in the pattern, and told the three of them, "We only have six days to figure out who the next target is."

"Alright," Sergeant Murdock folded his arms, leaned against the door, and asked, "What do we need to know?"

8:57 PM.

London, England The explanation to Jason's recovery and revival took some finesse, though ultimately it boiled down to complete uncertainty. Audrey's mother claimed it was not only a miracle but also a sign that Jason was healed by someone with an uncanny power, akin to the unexplained phenomena she read so frequently about. The couple and their doctor agreed to leave his regenerative properties out of their accounts. Doctor Reynolds thought it best to hide his abilities until they knew more, lest they draw the attention of the press and bring unwanted conflict into their lives.

Audrey and Jason dined at a small restaurant near where their home once stood and tried to get away from Audrey's family and their smothering amazement and overall intrigue. Jason initially wanted to stay in but Audrey insisted. She had lost him and now that he was back she wanted to celebrate. But even once he relented and they were seated together outside the restaurant, he was distant. Jason's gaze wandered and he remained away from their table for minutes on end before he would bring himself back. He was quiet too, rather nearly silent. Audrey asked questions and he either ignored her altogether or grunted replies.

"What's on your mind Jason?" Audrey asked. She waited for acknowledgment but it never came from him. "Jason!" she finally shouted and tore him from his thoughts. "What are you thinking about?"

Jason sighed and remarked that his thoughts remained on Joshua Todd. "I don't even know the man and I can't recall we've ever met, yet he tried to kill me. I can't understand it Audrey." He paused for a moment to concentrate before he added, "I can just make out his voice, but it isn't enough to use."

"What are you talking about?"

Jason had a habit that always acted as a tell when he was nervous or anxious, and Audrey learned what it was and what it meant early in their relationship. Jason sat hunched forward, fingers laced and in front of his mouth, eyes away, and his foot raced in place madly. He only ever seemed this on edge when he was genuinely stressed out about their finances or if there was a hint of layoffs at work. It worried Audrey.

Jason finally answered her, "I want to find him Audrey, I need to find him. I need to know what possessed him to burn our building down and single me out for execution."

Audrey frowned and slowly told him that their building was the target of a terrorist attack. "Honey, it wasn't Todd, it was the Dafu."

"No it was Todd," he spat. "Don't try and tell me it was someone else. I know it was him."

"There are recorded messages from members of the Dafu who claim responsibility for it Jason," she informed him. "It's been in the papers and on the news for weeks since the attack."

"You're wrong Audrey, they're wrong and they're lying. It had to be Todd."

Audrey looked away from him and did her best to quell her frustration. Jason remained focused on the table before him, as if it was a chess board and he contemplated his next move. She glanced back and saw how tense the muscles in his face and neck were. Audrey also noted how he kept his teeth grit and how tightly he gripped the edge of his chair.

She shook her head slightly and openly asked him what was wrong with him. "You are alive and whole through miraculous means and you're bent on revenge. Jason, forget about him and move on with your life. Why can't you be happy and celebrate the fact that we're together again and that we're safe?"

"How the h.e.l.l can I find relief with a madman out there?" Jason finally looked at her and asked how safe she could feel knowing that Todd might return and try to kill them once he learned that Jason wasn't dead. "For all we know he's already hunting us down, of maybe some of our neighbors who made it out soundly? He could have already slaughtered them and"

"The doctor already checked the security videos Jason," Audrey cut him off. "No one came in your room the night you died who wasn't a member of your medical team. There's no way he could have infiltrated your room and tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate you."

"Then how did I end up with those chemicals in my bloodstream? Why did I die and what caused me to come back?"

"I don't know Jason."

"It was Todd; Doctor Reynolds and her crack team of guards must have missed it, or Todd managed to tamper with the footage."

"Jason."

"Why not Audrey? It's what I would have done. It's what any villain would have done."

"But what reason does he have to attack you in the first place?"

"I don't know Audrey, that's what I'm trying to figure out."

He nearly shouted his last words which ended their argument. Jason looked away and Audrey tried not to make eye contact with the others at the restaurant. All she wanted was to leave, to walk away from the scene they created and talk, discuss, or fight over the issue elsewhere. She didn't want to fight, though she knew any discussion would escalate there. They were on edge, Jason especially. She thought they should be happy, glad he was alive and ecstatic that he'd recovered fully in such a short period of time. Instead they fought over a phantom who caused ire and fueled their contention. If they should worry about anything it should've been over their loss of home and possessions and their stress over locating a new home and property, as well as all of the paper work through their insurance. She didn't want to argue but plainly saw her husband's obsession and grew worried.

Audrey composed herself and gathered her thoughts. Had the attack never happened the pair would have been out in eager antic.i.p.ation of their holiday, which only stood a few days away. They still had their tickets and Audrey never canceled their reservations. Alan offered to handle the cancelations but Audrey never managed to give him their information to make the changes. For a brief moment she considered leaving, only to further consider it.

"You know, we're only a few days from our vacation," she started.

Jason told her they couldn't go. "We need to stay here and start rebuilding; we have too much to do."

"Yes but luckily Jack has already found us a place to live," she told him. "One of his mates is leaving for Brussels for a few years and there's an opening at his flat. It's further from your work but the price is very reasonable, and considering how desperately we need another home, I think it's a great opportunity."

Audrey saw her husband's attention waver. "Yes, that is wonderful but we need to refurnish wherever we live and get our life back in sorts."

"It could wait though," she replied. "We wouldn't be gone for more than a week, and we've already reserved enough of our funds for the trip and our flight tickets are already booked. Why not use them?"

"We can't be that irresponsible Audrey," he stopped her. "If anything we need to take the time we already requested off from work to handle our affairs. And what if..." he trailed off for a moment before he continued, "What happens when they find something? What if we're away when they discover the video of Todd killing me? And what can I do from Greece if Todd strikes and kills someone?"

Audrey looked crossly at him and demanded to know what he would do in any case. "Why would you want to track him down Jason? Revenge isn't the answer."

"What if he tries to kill you Audrey? How could I live with that? And what if he tries to burn another building to the ground?"

"Jason he didn't"

"Don't start that again," he snapped.

Audrey stopped herself for a moment before she told him she was leaving. "I don't want to stay here and listen to this Jason." She gathered her purse and started out of the restaurant. Jason didn't voice a word of protest.

She was nearly a block away before Jason caught up with her and apologized. "Audrey, I'm sorry." Jason took a breath and admitted he was fixated on the circ.u.mstances of his near death experience and couldn't get it out of his head. "I don't know what came over me; I shouldn't have yelled and caused a racket. I shouldn't yell at you to begin with and I'm sorry."

Audrey stood with her arms crossed and asked why he was angry with her.

"I'm not, I swear."

"Then why are you yelling at me?"

"I honestly don't know." He let his arms fall to his sides and he admitted he felt stressed from everything that happened to him. "It's a lot to take in Audrey."

"And how the h.e.l.l do you think I feel?" she asked with hot tears in her eyes. "You died Jason. I had to battle with the thought of never seeing you again and living alone without you. It crushed me, and when I saw that you were actually alive and recovering I was relieved, elated even. Yet your paranoia has only burdened me further and you've hardly paid me any mind since your return. I can't have that Jason, I can't."

She trembled and started to cry when he walked over and kissed her. They remained still together for a moment before Jason apologized again. "I don't know how I could have missed that Audrey. I'm sorry, about everything."

Audrey still trembled but she asked, "Now do you understand why I want to leave? I want to be with you Jason and this opportunity won't come along again for quite some time. I need this vacation to recover from everything myself and I want you to come with me. I need you to relax and forget about what has happened. We need to be together and celebrate all of the good that's come our way. Please, please come with me."

Jason took only an instant to reply. "Of course, of course Audrey, anything you want. I'm sorry I haven't been here for you and that you had to endure all of this without me."

Audrey wrapped her arms around Jason and held him there on the sidewalk. She ignored the people who pa.s.sed them by and only thanked her husband for his small sacrifice.

1:15 PM.

Both.e.l.l, Washington Jordan followed Rachel through the forest and hills at Blythe Park. She never said why she wanted to go there, but Jordan a.s.sumed it was either to smoke or fool around. They finally reached the littered opening where Jordan often brought Rachel. He took a seat in one of the plastic lawn chairs without so much as batting an eye at any memory of the place. "Did you bring anything with you? Because I haven't really had a chance to meet up with anyone to buy anything."

Rachel shook her head and told him that it wasn't the reason she brought him up there. "I need to show you something." Rachel took a seat next to him, took a small exacto-knife out of her pocket, and looked into Jordan's eyes. "Do you trust me?"