Blakesley
Blakesley pulled his car up in front of his father's house and massaged his temples for a moment. Sunday lunch with his father. Oh, how was he going to survive? He got out and closed his car door behind him, car beeping as he used his central locking. He walked up the path to the wonderfully New England style house, typically out of place with its Nevadian surroundings. His father had to have reminders of his past. Nevada had never been part of his plan.
Blakesley sighed, and walked up the path to the front door. He kncked, and waited for his father to answer it.
Blakesley Snr
Blakesley's father sat staring at a blank TV screen. The damn thing had broken a long time ago, and he'd never gotten around to seeing it fixed.
He inhaled from his pipe and blew the smoke towards it. A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
He looked tot he side as he put the pipe down, and slowly rose to his feet. He ignored the nearby walking cane, as he slowly made his way to the door and looked through the stained-glass window nearby.
"Kaleb?"
He unlocked the bolt and chain lock on the door, and finally opened it.
Blakesley
"Yes, father, it's me," Blakesley said as his father opened the door. He stepped inside the house as his father stepped back slowly. "How have you been? Well, I trust?"
Blakesley Snr
"Oh, getting by, getting by," his father extended a hand to his son's shoulder, pulling him inside as he closed the door.
He turned to bolt it again, then led his son into the livingroom.
"So do tell, how has life been treating you? Anything particular happening at the labs?"
Blakesley
Blakesley frowned. "Not that good I'm afraid. There was an incident...but I'm looking at perhaps turning it to my advantage." He sat down on a couch and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Blakesley Snr
"And what kind of incident are we talking about?" the old man smiled as he lowered himself into his rocking chair.
He took up his pipe again and began to rock back and forth.
Blakesley
"Escapes." Blakesley rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Remember the female I told you about? Jane Hall? She escaped. And one of our previous experiments, a mutant. Carrying an important experiment...and a full Dathrian male we had managed to acquire." He drummed his fingers against the armrest of the couch. "But I may be able to acquire a group of Dathrians who are related by blood..."
Blakesley Snr
The old man nodded slowly.
"These extra-terrestrials seem to be alot more trouble than they're worth," he commented flatly.
He sat the pipe down and slowly rubbed his hands together.
"Tell me... how is it you managed to aquire a full blood after so many years of them evading you? And just how did they escape?"
Blakesley
"A woman named Christina Terry acquired them for us. Apparently the male Dathrian was unable to use his atom manipulation. He managed to find out how to use it after a week or so, unfortunately." Blakesley frowned. "Why the hybrid didn't is still beyond me. I know she was able to..."
Blakesley Snr
The old man tapped his fingers on the arm of the rocking chair for a moment.
"And have you caught up with them since? Or are you hunting?" eh smiled slightly.
Blakesley
"Apparently the male Dathrian is part of a music group. I may be able to reobtain him, and also Jane. Natalia may be harder to track down as she may have been taken elsewhere." Blakesley smiled slowly. "But I am sure in the end that she will be found. I may be able to use this unfortunate event to obtain a group of aliens who are related by blood. Parents and children."
Blakesley Snr
"Sounds... interesting," the old man n odded slightly.
"I trust you have been having some... fun once in a while? After all, they seem to be giving you reasons to."
Blakesley
"Quite." Blakesley's smile became a bit more predatory. "Nothing truly inventive...they're too young to appreciate the art of a master. And I did not wish Jane to lose her babies. However, I did sign the male Dathrian. Annoying child 'dusted' a whole cupboard. With his atom manipulation...he decomposed them." He wore a look of faint irritation. "Nothing with any sentimental value, or that couldn't be replaced, but it was irritating."
Blakesley Snr
"I trust it was," the old man nodded.
"I'm sure the scars of the art will have others questioning the young male. Let's hope the truth doesn't go too far."
Blakesley
"Who is going to believe him anyway? The United States governement, involved in activities of that nature? He can't tell anyone outside the YIRAAAS, and they already know." Blakesley shrugged elegantly. "At least that we know about them and are seeeking to learn more about them. They have this annoying habit of releasing subjects...which does remind me. I need to find Varian."
Blakesley Snr
"Varian?" the old man suddenly looked concerned.
He sat forward for a moment.
"Varian has been turned loose? That is quite dangerous..."
Blakesley
Blakesley smiled bleakly at his father. "*I* know that, and *you* know that, indeed, every member of personnel at the base knows that Varian is an unknowable factor in any equation. However, the agents of YIRAAAS have bleeding hearts for anything caged. Varian is something that was best left where it was, contained for both its own good and that of the world. They will discover their mistake in time..."
Blakesley Snr
Old man Blakesley smiled, then laughed.
"Oh yes, indeed they will."
He rubbed his chin.
"How soon will you be aquiring this Dathrian and his kin?"
Blakesley
"A few weeks, I think." Blakesley settled back into his chair as he lifted his shoulders slightly in a shrug. "I will have to bllindfold them. However, the Dathrian told me what their powers were before he...left my custody." Blakesley smiled coldly. "Honour. What some people will do for it. Natalia's back provided adequate leverage to work with for a while."
Blakesley Snr
Old man Blakesley snickered.
"Honour. So misplaced in the children of today," he shook his head.
"Honour is a weakness. I'm glad I taught you well. You are a strong man, my son, and I am proud of you."
Blakesley
"Thank you, father. You were an excellent teacher." Blakesley treasured the words of praise; they were few and far between with a man like his father. "The Dathrian did not appreciate the artistry that is pain...it is so rare to find anyone who does."
Blakesley Snr
"But with the trouble he was causing, I'm sure that it would have been all that more engaging for you," his father looked to the side.
He sighed.
"I haven't had any fun like that for years. A decade almost."
Blakesley
"I have inquired with my superiors the possibility of you coming in and...demonstrating your technique. They're considering it," Blakesley offered. "I have told them how you instructed me yourself, and they did give permission to tell you the full details of my work. I'm sure it's only a matter of cutting through the red tape."
Blakesley Snr
"Well I'd be honoured," his father smiled, rubbing his chin.
"These old bones aren't what they used to be, but I'm sure we could work around it. Even if I only instruct you."
Blakesley
"But it wuld still be something." Blakesley stood. "I need to get back to base. It was good talking to you, sir." He walked over to his father and shook his hand. They walked to the door together. "I'll see if I can get enough time to come and see you next week." He walked down the pathway to his car, got in and drove away.