Natalia, Ewan and Mouse
Natalia slunk out of the hotel, and looked around. Where was he? There!
Ewan fiddled with his can of Coke, then finished it before throwing it into the bin. Bonny, come on out to me...He looked up as he heard running feet and caught her up, the both of them laughing like children. "There ye are, bonny! And I was beginning to think ye'd forgotten me."
"Could a lady forget her knight? Only if she was wicked cruel and with a hard hard heart."
"Which isn't ye at all, my bonny." Ewan smoothed his fingers across her face as she smiled at him, then caught her lips for a sweet kiss. It had been so long. "How did ye managed to sneak out?"
"No one looks at the dog, ruff! Natalia's too scared to leave. He's back, my knight, he's back." She pressed in close to him.
"Who's back?"
"Bad man, with his whips and cutting words."
"Well, we'll have to see he stays away then. Alright?" He twined her hair around his fingers, loving the smell of her, like the violets in the glens and hedgerows.
"Fine with me, my knight." She let him hold her close, feeling safe for a moment.
~*~*~*~
Blakesley drummed his fingers, which were now thankfully healed. Let us play the waiting game then...come on out, Taylor. It's time to make a new artwork. This is likee a game of chess...and you've let your queen stray far into enemy territory.
~*~*~*~
Mouse looked up from where she was lying with Fafnir and Bets. "Tay? Could you just go check on Nat, please?"
Taylor
Taylor looked up from where he was sitting, hearing someone... no, something.
The red haired photographer was back. He growled a little.
"Ewan's back," he frowned, not looking at Mouse.
Then he glanced at her.
"He can't keep following us like this. Who knows what he's going to stick his unwanted nose into."
He stood.
"I'll be back soon."
He leant over and kissed her, then left the room.
Mouse, Natalia and Ewan
"Ok, amour," Mouse said agreeably as she did some of her homework.
~*~*~*~
Natalia laughed as Ewan swung her around again. "Stop, ok, stop, or I'm gonna throw up."
"And we couldn't be having that nae, could we?" Ewan said semi- seriuosly. "So, what does my lady desire? Want to go see a flick?"
"A what?"
"A movie."
"You have odd words," Natalia giggled.
"I'm Scottish."
~*~*~*~
Blakesley leant forward slightly. "Get ready to move."
Taylor
Taylor made his way down to the lobby, knowing that both Natalia and Ewan were together across the street. When he got down into the main area, his eyes scanned the street looking for them. He soon spotted them together, and frowned slightly.
He left the hotel and made his way across the street.
"Ewan I presume?" he raised his eyebrows as he got to them.
Natalia and Ewan
"Yeah. Your point?" Ewan said, raising an eyebrow. "And you're Taylor Hanson, and this is Natalia, so we're all introduced."
"Ewan..." Natalia murmured and pressed herself back into his arms. "Let's go before the dog bites, ruff! Cos it's a bad puppy."
~*~*~*~
"On my count," Blakesley said pleasantly.
Taylor
"Why are you following us?" Taylor demanded.
"Is it just to get to Natalia, or are you only using her to get to us? I know your type Ewan, and I definately do not trust the likes of you."
Natalia and Ewan
"Natalia has nothing to do with ye," Ewan growled. "And it's none of your damn business. I haven't taken any photos of ye and the lass you're with, nor of your brothers. And don't think ye know all there is ta know about me, either." He glared at Taylor, pride stung to the quick.
"Somethings wrong..." Natalia whispered, twisting her head to look around. "Something, something...something slithering like a snake so quiet. Don't fight."
~*~*~*~
"Now," Blakesley ordered.
~*~*~*~
Natalia screamed, then pushed Ewan away in a burst of strength. "RUN!"
He stumbled backwards, and then nets fell over both Natalia and Taylor. "What the hell...?" He shook his head and knelt beside them.
"RUN!" Natalia screamed, fighting with the ropes. "Oh, for the love of God, RUN!"
"I don't know what this is, but I'm not leaving without ye, Bonny," Ewan said plainly as he got his dirk out of his boot and started sawing at the ropes.
Taylor
Taylor cried out as the net shocked him, and he fell backwards.
He cursed as his eyes widened, then lifted his head and let out an ear-piercing wolf whistle, calling all nearest animals.
Mouse, Ewan and Natalia
Fafnir and Bets's heads snapped up. The fuzzles started to cry, so Mouse ran to the window.
~*~*~*~
"Sedate them," Blakesley said in a bored tone as animals started running towards the huddled group.
~*~*~*~
Ewan cut through another rope, then stiffened for a moment before slumping forward unconscious.
"Nooooooooo!" Natalia wailed before a dart slammed into her neck as well and she subsided.
~*~*~*~
"Taylor!" Mouse screamed and ran for the door, her Pack flanking her.
~*~*~*~
Blakesley got out of the car he was in to supervise the loading of the three into a van. Some of the men were already at work, convincing people to move along. The few who stopped. And some more were calmly killing the animals running to the aliens rescue. "Hello Taylor," he said to the pinned down teen. "See you in the labratories." He raised his own trank gun and shot Taylor in the neck. "Get them in the van," he snapped as he waited for the drugs to take effect.
Taylor
Taylor cringed as his hand tried to fly to his neck where the dart sat, and he heard the animals being killed.
He knew there were a few birds swooping already, that the guards were narrowly missing. But they couldn't be much help if they couldn't get to him.
He stared up at Blakesley in shocked silence, before fainting.
Mouse
"Taylor! No!" Mouse cried out, then crumpled to the ground, hansd going around her stomach to protect her babies as she fainted. Fafnir and Bets nosed at her anxiously, torn between going to Taylor and helping Mouse. Her pregnancy tipped the scales, and they stayed with her.
~*~*~*~
Blakesley watched them all loaded into the vans. Soon, they were gone, leaving only a few scattered violets and a dulled dirk on the ground.
~*~*~*~
Blakesley sat in a chair and waited for them to wake up. Ewan was held limply by two soldiers, Taylor was chained to the wall, slumping in his chains, and Natalia was on the floor in a heap. Perfect.
Taylor
Taylor groaned slightly, before feeling something cutting into his wrists.
His eyes shot open - even though his vision was blurry - soon seeing the chains holding him.
"Oh... Oh my..." he couldn't get the last word out.
His legs scrambled to hold him up before he held himself straight back against the wall in shock.
Natalie and Ewan
"Hello, Taylor." Blakesley smiled and he noticed that the other two were showing signs of coming around as well. Natalia sat up, and immediately reacted with that intense fear that Blakesley found so satisfying.
"Oh, oh god..." She scrambled backwards, still down low on the ground until she came up against a wall. "I told you, I told you, I told you..." A choking whine came from her lips as she seemed to forget speech.
"Stand up, Natalia." She stayed where she was, shaking so hard that her teeth clattered together. Blakesley sighed slightly. "Stand up."
"Wha..." Ewan slurred as he started to come around. His eyes opened dazedly and he snarled at the soldiers on either side of him. "Let go of me, ye bastards! Bonny!"
"I told you to run, I told you," Natalia moaned in terror as she slowly stood.
"Let me see if I remember this. Hold your arms out, Natalia," Blakesley said as he stood and pressed a button. The wall slid back to reveal a recess filled with torture implements. Natalia lifted her arms and held the backs of her hands flat against the wall, looking like she was about to be crucified.
"What the *hell* is going on here?" Ewan demanded, and got a fist to the stomach for his trouble.
"You managed to involve yourself in one of the more covert operations of the US government, Mr McCloud," Blakesley said absently as he tested the balance of a knife. "Miss Rayner there is a mutant, and Taylor? Well, he's an alien. My job is to preform the role of a scientist...and also as enforcer. I'm a very handy man to have in this line of work." He turned suddenly, and flung the knife at Natalia. She didn't have time to breathe before it was vibrating in the wall over her shoulder, pinning her there by her clothes. Another followed it on the otherside, this time, just barely knicking the skin.
Taylor
Taylor watched with wide eyes at what was happening.
Oh yes, he remembered Blakesley alright. Dammit. Damn it all. He knew he shouldn't have let Natalia leave her room at the hotel...
His eyes strayed to Natalia, refusing to look at Blakesley and let him have the satisfaction of seeing fear in his eyes.
Natalia and Ewan
Blakesley walked over to Natalia, dagger in his hand and he took hold of her top, drawing it back in preparation to cut it.
Ewan went berserk. "GET AWA' FROM HER!" The soldiers on either side had trouble holding onto him, until one of them rammed the butt of his gun down on the Scot's head. Ewan crumpled, blood running from his forehead.
"Ewan!"
Blakesley sliced her clothes off her. "Don't you remember, Natalia? Good girls wait until they are told they can speak," he whispered gently, before slapping her across the face. She bit back a sob, purple eyes fixed anxiously on Ewan as she tried to cover herself with her hands. Blakelsey laughed slightly. "What, modest again?"
Taylor
Taylor turned his head the other way the second her clothing fell.
He didn't remember any of this. He remembered Blakesley... he remembered the white labs and their halls... he remembered Blakesley's manner. But he didn't remember anything else, try as he might.
Ewan and Natalia
Ewan moaned and raised himself up onto all fours, before lunging for Blakesley. The soldiers caught him, and Blakesley walked over. "I want him awake."
"What the *hell* is going on here? And who the hell are ye?" Ewan snarled at the doctor, before spitting in his face. Blakesley calmly wiped it from his face, before taking a taser from a soldier and shocking the Scot on the stomach. "Uh!"
"What is going on is a re-education process," Blakesley said. "My name is Blakesley, and I suggest you forget whatever notions of freedom you have. Welcome to the labs."
"Go fock yourself!"
"One day soon, you'll bow to me and call me Master. As Natalia does."
"BASTARD! McClouds bow to no one!"
"Ah yes, the family motto...Aog comh masladh."
"Yer prounouciations a wee bit off, laddie," Ewan growled.
"You know what I meant."
"And I *stand* by it, Sassenach."
Blakesley nodded slightly. "We will see." He turned to the other soldiers in the room. "Shain him so he faces that wall," he gestured towards the other wall. They nodded, and soon Ewan despite all his fighting was chained up next to Taylor. "You can have her now," he said blandly, nodding at Natalia. She shuddered, and then started to scream as they dragged her out of the room.
"BASTARDS! BONNY!" Ewan cried out, fighting at his bonds. Blakesley went over to another switch and flipped it. It became apparent that the wall Ewan and Taylor were facing was a onesided mirror as Natalia slid across the floor in the other room.
"Let us watch the show, shall we?" Blakesley said as the soldiers entered as well, and Natalia looked at them in panic.
Taylor
Taylor just stared through the glass at the guards with Natalia, before turning his head sharply into his shoulder, refusing to look.
He remembered Mouse telling him about Natalia constantly being raped, and he knew it was most likely about to happen again.
He cursed softly in Korean, wondering why Ewan had been brought in at all.
Ewan
Natalia skittered across the floor away from the soldiers as they chatted amongst themselves. "Not again, please, no."
Blakesley grabbed Taylor's head and turned his face back to it. "Watch it, or I might decide to cut off your eyelids so you can't close your eyes," Blakesley said in a silky voice.
"Why are ye doing this to her?" Ewan demanded in a hoarse voice. "Bastard, ye bastard."
"I am getting sick of being called that," Blakesley sighed as the first soldier grabbed Natalia by her hair.
Taylor
Taylor jumped and cried out as Blakesley took hold of him.
He squeezed his eyes shut, but knew he'd better keep them open. He concentrated on letting tears of fear well in his eyes, making it hard to see anything.
"Please... don't... Leave her alone," he almost whimpered.
Natalia
Natalia whimpered as hands roved over her body, then she was shoved down onto her back, hands above her head and knees held up and out.
"This is out of my hands now. Besides, the men need some release from their tensions," Blakesley said coldly.
"God, let her go!" Ewan cried out.
A scream ripped out of Natalia's throat as the first one slammed into her brutally.
Taylor
"Oh God."
Taylor squeezed his eyes shut, a tear finding its way down his right cheek.
"Let them... let them do it another way. Let me go," he almost whispered.
Ewan and Natalia
"So noble of you to offer, but I think this serves my purposes best at the moment." Blakesley smiled cuttingly.
"I am going to kill ye with my bare hands," Ewan grated out.
Natalia cried out as she was flipped from her back to her stomach. Oh god no. Not dry. She arched her back and screamed, before she was slapped for it.
"Open up, bitch," a voice hissed at her. "And if I feel any teeth..."
Natalia obediently opened her mouth, tears streaming down her face. She tried to breathe through her nose, gagging slightly.
Taylor
Taylor kept his eyes shut, stretching his neck slightly so the pull on his hair lessened a little. He knew if he stood up straight he could almost be out of Blakesley's reach, but his legs were harldy holding him up as it was.
"Why... why are you doing, this to us?" he stuttered, hardly able to get the words out.
Ewan
"To break you," Blakesley said absently.
"Dear god, you're mad," Ewan whispered. "Or ye not human."
"I'm quite human. As human as yourself."
"Then why are ye letting them do this to her?" Another of Natalia's piercing screams echoed through the mirror. "Why are ye..."
"I prefer submissive subjects. It makes the entire process much easier."
"It'll be a cold day in hell before ye see me calling you 'Master' as ye wish me too," Ewan spat.
"As I said, we shall see."
Taylor
"Why is he here?" Taylor opened his eyes, and they darted anywhere but at the window.
"He's human, he's... he's not supposed to be here. He's not involved. Why is he here?"
Ewan
"I know when to make use of unexpected circumstance," Blakesley said, shrugging slightly. Satisfied that Taylor was watching now, he let go of his hair and moved away. "He can be used as a lesson to you or as leverage over Natalia...not that I really need leverage over her. Oh, and there are some biological weapons that need testing, so he can serve as a human lab rat as well."
"I was right. Ye aren't human. Ye don't have a heart. I hope you burn in hell." Ewan blinked away tears of grief and rage as Natalia was raped over and over again in front of them.
Taylor
Taylor immediately turned his head away and held his breath.
He wondered suddenly if he'd ever been in the same position before. From the way Mouse and Natalia spoke of Blakesley it wouldn't really surprise him.
Ewan
"What did I say about watching, Taylor?" Blakesley chided gently.
Ewan glared at him. "I hope ye know how to run, lad. Because all I'm gonna give ye is a five second start. And then I kill you."
Taylor
Taylor gulped and turned to Ewan, but couldn't look him in the eye for even a whole second.
Instead, he hung his head and pulled on the chains slightly. If he wasn't distracted by Natalia's screams he'd be picturing himself back with Craig.
Ewan
"Watch her," Blakesley said. "This is nothing to what she has already endured."
"I can't believe how good it's gonna feel when I kill ye," Ewan hissed.
"Oh yes. You might not know, Taylor, but Mr McCloud here has killed somebody."
"I was judged aright in that killing. He was raping a girl. He deserved to die. As do ye, and I will have no problems in dealing out that punishment when it comes."
"Tell me...what faith are you?"
"Calvinist."
"Ah."
Taylor
Taylor ignored Blakesley, keeping his head down.
"Don't make threats you can't keep he shook his head, gulping slightly.
"Wait until you have an upper hand, then go for your life as far as I'm concerned."
Ewan
"Glad to know I have yer approval then," Ewan said with sarcasm.
"Do I detect a hint of discord?" Blakesley said. Ewan stared at him with utter disgust.
"On killing ye, we're very much in agreement."
Taylor
Taylor chuckled a little, but quickly sobered and wiped the grin from his face.
This wasn't exactly the time or place to be laughing - for any reason.
"The only reason I agree is because of the death warrant."
He looked up at Ewan for a moment.
"You wouldn't know... there is a death warrant out for him."
His eyes returned to the ground.
Natalia and Ewan
"Really nae?" Ewan said carefully. "From whom?"
"The aliens form of exceptionally illegal government," Blakesley said. He moved to the intercom. The soldiers seemed to be finishing up with Natalia. "Bring her in here." He also closed the wall.
Natalia was flung onto the floor at Ewan and Taylor's feet, bleeding and covered in bodily fluids. She was breathing in broken little gasps.
"Bonny, bonny, can ye hear me?" Ewan said almost desperately. She whimpered slightly, and curled in further on herself. Eyes that were almost on fire with rage looked at Blakesley as he walked towards the door. "Another thing about the McClouds. We never forget the wrongs done to us and the ones we love."
"Really? How interesting. So, you *love* her, do you?" Blakesley sneered. Ewan stared back coldly.
"None of yer focking business, but aye."
Taylor
Taylor jumped a little every time Blakesley began talking.
Now that Natalia was at their feet he hid his face in his shoulder again, the material of his shirt soaking his tears.
He couldn't imagine what he'd done last time to make Blakesley have it in for him.
Ewan and Natalia
"Well then, care for your love," Blakesley said contemptously and looked at the soldiers who had accompanied Natalia in. "Let them down. For tonight."
"Bonny, bonny..." Ewan whispered to Natalia. She just cried.
The soldiers came over and let Taylor down first.
Taylor
Taylor waited until they'd let go of him, then held his wrists, leant against the wall, and slid to the ground.
Pulling his knees in to his chest, he wrapped his arms around his legs and hid his face.
Ewan and Natalia
The soldiers treated Ewan with a lot more caution. He looked like a man who could be dangerous. Ewan glared at them as he rubbed his wrists, then dropped to his knees beside Natalia. "Bonny?"
With a wail, Natalia darted into his arms.
"Shh, shh..." Ewan rocked her slightly, feeling helpless. What could he do to help her? What could he do to help any of them?
"Touching as this is, I have work to do," Blakesley said, and he and the soldiers left the three to their thoughts.
After a bit, Ewan managed to get Natalia to let go of him enough that he could start to try and clean her up.