“Of course,” he nodded.
They listened as the metal ladder squeaked and strained under Creed’s thick, muscular frame and just when they thought he must be climbing back onto the ground-level floor, there was a series of popping sounds that could only be gunfire.
“Oh no!” Evan breathed even has he raced up the ladder to help.
MetaMonarchs Part 4
1 year ago
“I cannot believe it’s taken you this long to find her, Kenneth.”
“Me either.”
“Where has she been all this time?”
“Texas under an assumed name. She goes by Winter now. Margo Winter.”
“Where are the subjects?”
“She’s raised them as her own. Can you believe it?”
“Have they any idea what they are?”
“I doubt it. She’s kept them secluded from the world—homeschooling them on a private ranch.”
“How did you get her to separate from the three?”
“Simple. I deceived her. She’s been publishing papers under her assumed name, in obscure journals. My scientists brought an article she wrote to my attention. She’s been working on trying to find a cure for spectrum disorders.”
“You mean autism.”
“Yes.”
“I seem to recall her having a personal connection with someone autistic.”
“Her sister.”
“She’s been trying to find a cure for autism all this time when she has three of the most advanced humanoids ever created living right under her nose?”
“Incredible, isn’t it?”
“So why did your scientists bring you her article?”
“They were impressed with her findings. Apparently, she is on the cutting edge of research in her field.”
“I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: Can you imagine if she had been altered to be a MetaMonarch? She would have been unstoppable. There’s no amount of money that would have made me want to give her up—I don’t care what the highest bidder offered.”
“Stop drooling over what will never be. You know my plans to rid myself of the Institute and completely relocate to my new Facility in Germany.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m hoping to bring her and all three original metahumans with me.”
“By the way, how has Michelle been working out for you?”
“She’s marvelous. I forgot to mention how invaluable her information became once the children contacted her husband, Dr. Theodore Andrews.”
“Planting her with him five years ago was a tactic that paid off after all! And you scoffed at my idea! How has she helped?”
“She’s checked in every Monday morning for the last five years, just as you programmed her to do. She contacts me and lets me know of any changes in Andrews’ behavior or contacts.”
“I knew if we followed her best friend from medical school, she would contact him eventually. She trusts so few people in this world. I believed we could count on her leaning on Andrews because he was one of the few people in her life on whom she could depend. My candidate Michelle was worth losing now that she’s come through for us!”
“She will be tracking his movements. He’s gone to retrieve the subjects from their home in Texas. As for me, I’m about to go visit Margo for the first time in twelve years.”
“Have fun with her. If I remember correctly, she was quite a beauty.”
Accustomed to ignoring Donovan’s advances toward attractive women, Kenneth rolled his eyes.
“Once I get the subjects back into my possession, I’ll be able to harvest the serum’s formula from their blood. We’ll be able to start back where I left off!”
“Now wait a minute, Kenneth. I think our clients are getting pretty effective products even now.”
“You don’t understand, Donovan. These three are different. I’ve tried to explain it to you before. Their serum brought things out in them that I’ve never been able to duplicate in metahumans since. They are exceptionally enhanced.”
“Okay, friend. You go play with your subjects and don’t forget to bring me back my candidate Michelle. I have clients waiting in the wings for a Monarch with just her skill set,” he chuckled deeply before adding, “A woman with brains and looks is a valuable asset to any discerning client.”
“I’ll bring her back with me, Donovan. And I’ll call you once I have the subjects in my possession. I’m dying to see how M57 turned out. She was especially different even as a very young child.”
Chapter 9 Not The Time Or Place
Alik, Farrow and Maze held to the shadows as much as possible as they dashed from the Research Hospital to the van glowing eerily white in the moonlight.
“Where the heck is everyone? This place should be crawling with soldiers.” Alik breathed softly as they peeked around a line of shrubbery.
“There is only one thing I can think of that would clear out the compound like this, and that would be a Retribution Match.”