The Mark - 12. Chapter 12

I was led out of the elevator into the courtyard and down into what looked like a subway station.

"Did you ever read the book Willy Wonka and the Glass Elevator?" Louis asked me.

"Yeah I did as a little kid." I replied.

"Well that is how this subway works. It goes up, down, left, right, arches, and curves to transport someone to the different buildings above and below ground. When you receive your id, you'll be granted access to the different parts of the community, the central office, and the hospital. Since you're not a researcher, you'll not have access to those parts of the building."

I watched as he put his picture id into a slot by the rail line. Out of the ceiling a large sphere shot down and joined with the rail line. A door then opened into what looked like a six passenger car.

"Head on in." Louis said, moving out of the way.

I walked into the sphere that was lined with seats with drop down harnesses. Sitting down in one of the forward viewing chairs I lowered the harness. Louis then came in, sat next to me and lowered his. He then took his card and swiped it against a slot in the harness and entered a code in the panel.

"Warn me if you start feeling sick, these things can be a wild ride." He said with a wicked grin.

Before he could reply the car began to move. Instead of moving forward the car dropped straight down a lit shaft for what felt like 50 meters. I suddenly had the need to pee badly and was sure the color of my face had paled a shade or two. I turned my head to see Louis who was laughing his head off. The sphere continued its convoluted journey dropping here and turning there until it started to slow down to a stop. Louis's harness automatically rose up but mine would not move, leaving me trapped.

"Travis would pay me to leave you in this predicament for him to find you but he would probably punish me in the end so I guess I'll let you go." He said in a manner that proved he was getting a perverse pleasure from seeing me like this. He took out his card again and swiped it against my harness bar causing it to release me.

All these comments about Travis liking me had finally driven John to ask the question, "Why did Travis pick me?" I asked Louis

"Ah, that's a complicated question and I'm not sure if I should be the one to answer it. Lets just say that Travis thinks you have something that he's been looking for, for a long long time."

"What is that something?" I asked.

"If you have to ask that then you don't need to know yet."

"You're being impossible."

"And you're being impatient. Good things come to those that wait. If you have what Travis is looking for then you'll not need to know what it is."

"I'll take your word for it."I was a bit miffed.

"Always follow your doctor's instructions, is what I tell my patients." He said kindheartedly.

As they entered the hospital building I noticed that the air vents were made out of a transparent material.

"The material is nonporous and therefore prevents bacteria from growing on it. We decided not to cover it up so that we could be sure that they were clean and moisture free.

"It's like living in the Alps here, you're always thirsty since the air is so dry." Louis explained.

He continued to talk about the different rooms and features of the hospital, which made most premier hospitals, look dingy by comparison. He led me to one examination room and told me to remove my cloths while he prepared the tests.

Louis entered the control room and was met by a lab tech.

"So are we doing a full work up on the new guy?"

"Yes." Louis replied "Except for the augmentations. Dr. Gannon does not want him altered. Just a normal physical, DNA Scan, and implant."

"Oh but I like it when the new guys get their anal-prostate duct and this guy is married too."

"Walter! If I find that you put in the duct against my orders I'll make sure that Dr. Gannon finds out personally."

"No need to threaten me, I was only joking." Walter said sheepishly. "I only thought that since he is married that Dr. Gannon would want the duct."

"No, Dr. Gannon wants this one to be special. No ducts!"

"You're the boss."

Having finished the debate with his lab tech, Louis turned on the intercom to the exam room John was in. "John you can lay on the exam table now." He said before turning the intercom off.

Walter during this time began to speak into a dictation microphone. "Today is July 12th 2013, the subject is John Keller, 28 years old white male, brown hair, blue eyes." Louis looked at the data from the exam table before continuing. "He is 6'2" tall, weight at 178 pounds, heart rate at 78 bpm. Blood pressure at 110 over 70. No identifiable marks. Body fat at 4%, dick at 4 inches soft. That last comment got a glare from Louis who was preparing the blood samples. "Hey, you know the boss would want that info. You know I'm right." Walter defended himself.

"Just hurry up and finish." Louis hissed.

Walter pushed a different button causing a large machine to be lowered above John's head. "Scan shows nil on the TP and TK levels." Walter reported before pushing another button. On the E level... 12.8!!!!!" Walter shouted in surprise. He turned off the microphone and began hitting Louis who was grinning. "Why did you not tell me you were bringing an E here.

"You never asked," Louis said smugly.

"So he's the one." Walter said with awe.

"Possibly, the scanner only measures potential, it only measures total output not the strength of it. Without the ability to focus it, he won't be able to do too much."

"But still he is the highest we've ever had."

"And the only one found outside of Gen-Corp, makes you think doesn't it." Louis replied

They quickly concluded their tests and allowed John to redress. Louis sent a cryptic e-mail to Travis with the results and then replaced the data on the computer with a prepared false file. Before leaving Walter to take care of the next patient he took out a small electrocution device and jabbed it into Walter neck. Walter convulsed for a few seconds before Louis removed the device and pocketed it. The device would remove Walther's short-term memory but otherwise not harm him. Louis then went to the exam room where John was finished dressing. "Well how about some lunch before Henry comes to help you pick your secretary."

At lunch we were met by Henry, who told me that after they selected my secretary, they were to go to the gym to catch up with Travis. I told him I did not think I could workout in my business suit but Henry told me not to worry that they could pick something up at the gym. I said his goodbyes to Louis and went off with Henry.

We decided to walk to the central office building instead of taking the rail cars. I did not think that he could take it on a full stomach. The massive reception area was made out of dark granite with a backdrop of a 9-story waterfall that stretched from end to end. Lined out in front of the reception desk were around 25 men wearing only tee shirts tucked into white boxers. They all stood at attention as if they were in the military. The only sound besides that of rushing water was that of a screaming boy who was being dragged away by an adult in a suit.

"I want my puppy!" The boy screamed over and over again. And while the full sized adult male should have been able to lift the 4-year-old boy, he seemed to be loosing a tug of war with him.

"Let me go!" The boy shouted at the man holding him who then fell unconscious. The boy then ran down the stairs but was met by several men in uniform.

I was stunned in what I was seeing, Four guards against one little boy but Henry seemed nervous as he began to tug at my sleeve indicating that it would be better if we left and quickly.

As they were heading for the doors the boy gave a sudden scream and everything went white for a second. When I could see again only the boy and myself were still standing. Alarms were now blaring and I could here shouts coming from the upper stairs. The boy looked at me with a stunned look as if surprised I was still up. He then quickly ran over to one of the men in white and began kicking him.

"You can't leave me!" he kept shouting at the man who remained knocked out.

I felt like I needed to do something so I ran up to the boy and picked him up, moving him away from the man he was kicking. The boy kept on hitting me causing my vision to be filled with white flashes. My head started hurting and I felt light headed but was able to keep the boy away from the man.

Eventually he stopped hitting me and only cried against his shoulder, whimpering, "I want my puppy back," repetitively.

John put his hand behind the boy's head to try to comfort him. He did not tell him that everything would be ok since I did not know what was really happening. After all the white flashes stopped, guards started coming down the stairs and out of one of the elevators came a middle aged man, the oldest I'd seen since coming here, dressed in a business suit approach them.

"You can put my son down now." He said in a weary voice.

I found that more difficult then I had picking him up, he seemed to not to want to let go. The best I was able to do was get him back down on the ground but not free of his left leg that he clung to with both arms and legs.

"Gordon, you will come here right NOW!" The angry father ordered.

The boy then slowly released my leg and walked back to his father dejectedly. "I want my puppy back." He whispered to his father.

"You can't have him back." His father told him as a matter of fact. "You've nearly killed him several times already even when you were warned."

"I won't this time." The boy pleaded.

"No son, don't make promises you can't keep." The father now said sadly.

"Can I have him then." The boy said now pointing at me.

The father started looking at me curiously but in the end said;"No son, this is Dr. Gannon's toy. If you behave for the next two weeks I'll get you a new toy."

"But I want him!" The demanded.

"Would you like to see your mother and the babies inside her." He said with a sigh.

"Yes, I like the babies. I talk to them but they don't understand yet. Do you think they'll like me?" The boy went off at a thousand words a minute.

The father handed off his son to one of the guards before returning his attention to me. "Thank you for stopping my son. That poor man has received a bad deal. You just make sure you're careful. Those who earn my son's attention tend to need to visit the hospital often. If you could also do me a favor, please select that poor fellow as your aid. If not, he will remain in this building and I do not think that would be in his best interest right now, good day Mr. Keller." He tipped his head and headed back to the elevators.

I turned my attention to Henry who was still on the floor but now awake. He moaned and rubbed his head as he and the other people who were knocked out started getting up. I grabbed his arm and helped him up.

"I see you made it though ok." Henry said still groggy.

"Yeah I guess so, I have a splitting headache but that's about it. Not like the poor guy he was kicking."

"Poor bastard, worst job a person can get, being that demon's pet." Henry said in frustration.

"Gordon?" John asked

"Yeah, the CEO's son."

"So that is who the father was. How can he let other men be his son's pet and how can a boy treat another person like that and why did everyone pass out." I said a little angrily."

"Hey don't get mad at me, I'm just the secretary."

I was still mad but decided to check on the poor man that the boy had beating on. He had short red hair, about 6'2" in height and pale pinkish skin. He was moaning something that I could not hear until I got closer."

"Please don't send me back. Please don't send me back. I'll be good. Please don't send me back.

I picked the poor man up who then opened his eyes. His eyes were a unnatural deep forest green and were watery with tears. I felt a lot of pain coming from him, pain and fear. I told him not to worry, that they would take him away from here. I motioned to Henry, who was behind him, to help him lift the red hair man up and take him to the hospital.

Back at the hospital we were met by several staff personnel who took the red haired man to a operation room. A doctor approached them to ask what happened. Henry tried to explain what happened but Henry talked about a lot of stuff I did not understand like "mind strike" and "mind blast" I felt like I was in a bad science fiction movie with the terms they was using. The doctor led to an observation room and saw the procedure. The red haired man was lying on his back in a raised tank of blue liquid with his head sticking out at an end. There were also three people in medical uniforms. One in the middle with both his hands on the sides of the injured man's head while the two men beside him had one hand on each shoulder of the middle one. I saw the three men's eyes starting to glow blue. John then felt a sudden rush, a blinding light and then darkness.

Will rushed to the hospital as soon as Henry phoned him the news. Poor Jacob, poor loyal Jacob. Jacob Patrick was once one of his best guards until he ran into Gordon. Gordon, a boy desperate for attention went after anyone with any E talent like a leech to blood. Jacob could of asked not to serve as Gordon's personal guard but he was so stupidly loyal. As if that boy needed protection. He could take out a whole squad of normal TP's and TK's with a thought. Jacob had some protection due to his E talent but that only seemed to make Gordon do worse things to him in order to get his father's attention. Only after several emergency trips to the hospital was Will able to convince the CEO that his son should not have the same guard at all times and was able to order Jacob back to the labor pool. But now it seemed that Gordon was not so willing to give up what he viewed was his and had attack Jacob again. By some miracle or curse John had been there to stop him from doing serious harm but now Gordon wanted John. When Travis finds out that Gordon asked his father for John, he will hit the roof.

When Will reached Jacob's bed, he saw that he was out of the tank and in recovery.

"How are you doing trooper?" He said, trying to be cheerful for the young man.

"I can't go back, sir, I tried but I can't go back there again." Jacob pleaded

"Don't worry, you won't be going back there again." Will said calmly but with tears in his eyes.

"But what will I do? I missed the selection."

"No you didn't and guess what... you were selected." He said ruffling the man's red hair.

Jacob responded to the head rub with a relaxed sigh before falling back asleep.

Yep Jacob is definitely an animorph, Will thought to himself. He has a pack mentality through and through. He is loyal, loving, and only wants the same in return.

Many of the guards underwent the animorph process, it increased a pack mentality which raised loyalty and the ability to work as a team. It also helped solve some of the TE/TK problem many of the stronger guards such as Jacob had. Will once thought of undergoing the process but decided that a pack mentality would affect his creative thinking, which he felt was more important as head of security. No, Jacob would be a loyal guard for John and his family especially if John's E talent was as strong as the report read.

Will's next stop was to check on John, who fell unconscious during the healing. Not an uncommon occurrence for an untrained E talent. Will felt sorry for John. Here was a man born and raised outside the corporation not knowing a thing about the world he was now entering. Travis wanted to shelter John for as long as possible to make it as he put it "a journey of self discovery". That was all and good but if you will not give him a map at least give him a compass Will had told Travis but Travis was adamant, John had to find out on his own. When he arrived at the room, Will saw Henry with John, who was now awake.

"When the doctors allow it, forget the gym, just get the two of them back home." Will whispered in Henry's ear. Henry just nodded and proceeded to look for the doctor.

Travis could tell when John was on his way home. The taste of emotions was sweet nectar to him. It had taken him months to locate John after passing him on the street back in Boston. For the first time since his powers had fully developed, he could feel again and he never wanted to loose it again. He followed the trail of emotions until he figured out who the person was right before the train he was on took off. The loss of feelings was so devastating to him he committed himself to finding that man again. He bought an apartment located on the same street and waited for the man to return. After three months at his vigil there, the man did return and this time Travis was ready. He had Will and his men follow him until they discovered where John lived and worked. Travis then began to hatched his plan to bring John into his family. Travis was an Alpha, the strongest in both TP, telepathic, and TK, telekinetic, talent. This made him the strongest person in the company. It also made him the most isolated. When a TP and TK reaches his full potential part of their emotions die. The stronger the talent, the more their emotional self disappears. Travis, being the only Alpha, was the strongest and therefore lost nearly all of his emotions except for anger. When he was not cool and calculating, he was in furious rampages. Empaths, E talent, were the ones who could restore the emotions of the T's. The problem for Travis was there was no one strong enough. The rankings of power were based on a power of ten for T's. A delta was 10 times stronger then a gamma and a beta was 100 times stronger then the same gamma, which, was the average level of talent. Travis was 1000 times more powerful then the average T. Empaths could reawaken the emotions only of one of ten power or less except for Alphas. Alphas required an Empath of equal power for there to be any return of emotions and until John, there had never been one. That is why Empaths of equal power to Alpha's were referred to as Omega's due to their religious significance. It represented the perfect combination of the two areas of talent.

Oh he badly wanted John to love him. He wanted him by his side for the rest of their lives. It took all the control he had not to jump him and make love to him. He was furious when he learned that Kip Vassar's son had asked for John to become his new pet. While Kip was essentially his boss Kip knew better then to mess with him. It was Gordon who had yet to learn his limits. Gordon would one day be a threat to him when he came in full to his powers. His only hope for peace between them was for John to have a son who also was an Omega and for that son and Gordon to fall in love. Otherwise, Travis feared for John. That lead to another problem, when to bring up the issue of augmentation.

Jacob and John arrived at the apartment in wheel chairs. Jacob was still asleep but John had wanted to walk back but Will would not allow him. Before they had a chance to knock on the door, the doors were busted opened by a concerned Travis.

"Is everyone alright, I was so worried!" Travis began checking John's body for any injuries.

"Don't worry I'm alright." John said cheerfully

"I just want to make sure your ok I've never had a... I've never been .." He stuttered

"In love before." John realized.

It was weird having a grown man who had shown so much charm and charisma back in Boston was like a little child...or nervous boyfriend John realized. He had not yet come to grip with the fact that someone loved him with such intensity and that the person was a man. It was affecting his view on life. He had viewed homosexuality not as bad but just weird. But what he was feeling from Travis was not weird. It was the emotions of a person following his heart. The problem for him now was how to respond to this love given freely. John knew Travis wanted him to love him in all ways possible but John was still married. He still wanted a family. He still loved Sara. Either way he would hurt someone. Travis had stopped examining me and was staring into my eyes, tears running down his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he cried.

For some reason John knew that Travis knew what he was thinking about. "Don't be." John said while wiping away Travis's tears. "You're a wonderful loving person. You deserve better then me."

"I only need you." He whispered while nuzzling against John's neck. "If I love... it is only because of you."

John's body began to shake; He was being filled by Travis's love and desire. John was his only source of love he could feel and return. John could not stop himself, He wrapped his arms around his neck and whispered in his ear;"I love you."

John was lifted out of the chair and embraced into a bear hug. Travis kept shouting "Yes, yes, yes!"

He let loose the hug but kept hold of John's hand as he pulled him along. He kissed Henry, Chris and Will, telling them each that John loved him. Tears were running down everyone's eyes except for Jacob who was surprisingly still asleep. Travis pulled John into another mighty squeeze. He then pulled John back at arms lengths as if he were trying to burn the moment in his mind. His lips were trembling. John knew what he wanted to do. He raised my head and pulled closer to the taller man inviting him to do what he wanted. He needed no more of an invitation.

He bent his head to meet John's, their lips open. The experience was near indescribable. John had never had a kiss like this. The taste of his mouth was an earthy sweetness that tingled my tongue and lips. Travis's own tongue was a fleshly hot mass sending shiver down John's back when it touched the roof of his mouth. Travis pulled John in closer by griping the back of my head. Something weird was happening. When John's tongue explored Travis's mouth it was like all of his saliva glands were constantly shooting off. When it would touch John's tongue or drip into his mouth he felt himself becoming more enraptured, more lustful. His cock was beginning to stir and he found myself not wanting to ever let go.

Travis was even more into it. He was basically shouting into his mouth in joy and I could feel his hard on pressed against my abdomen. It was only when we finally released did I see the full change in Travis.

His body was soaked in what looked like sweat. His eyes had taken on an all encompassing gray glow and his body looked more built then it was before. He waited until he had caught his breath before speaking. "We need to slow down. You're not ready yet and if I were to progress it would hurt you." Travis said seriously

"How do I become ready?" He asked concerned.

"Time, all it will take now is time. You need to learn about yourself before we commit to each other. You need time to grow in your amazing gift. When the time comes when we kiss and your eyes glow blue, then we will be ready for our life together."

"Alright." John said before letting go of him.

Dinner was simple and quick, everyone seemed tired and worn out. During the meal everyone except Jacob looked at me as if I would drop dead at any moment.

"What's wrong?" I asked the general group.

"That kiss, did you notice anything shooting out of Travis's mouth?" Will asked.

"Yes, I thought that it was just his saliva glands going off, why?"

"John, I have to tell you the truth. I'm what is called a T here." Travis said sadly.

"What's that?" John asked now confused.

"It means I have telepathic and telekinetic talents. It is why I'm so attracted to you."

"How?" John said surprisingly calm. For some reason I knew that Travis was telling the truth.

"John, you're an empath."

"What does that mean?" Isaid concerned.

"Telepaths work with thoughts, empaths work with emotions. You can feel emotions other people are trying to hide. You know when they are lying to you. You know their motives. You also have the ability to give people emotions. In my case it was love."

"Same for me." I replied.

Travis smiled back at me. "Telepaths in general are separated from their emotions, it is our great tragedy. But when a telepath comes in contact with an empath, those emotions are brought back. As a result, the attraction between telepaths and empaths are great as love feeds love. The problem I faced was that I was too strong for any empathy. Only you have been able to reunite me with my feelings. The story of there being one true love was correct in my case. You are the only person I can ever love and I'm glade it is you. When we kissed, the bond was released; it was the fluid that entered your mouth. The bond is what triggered the change in my eyes. In time it will trigger the change in yours but it will be painful. Your body did not undergo the change that we all underwent during puberty. In a matter of weeks your body will change in way that took us years. I don't want you to suffer but I would be lying to say you wouldn't. Jacob here has some E talent and will be able to guide you in the process. I will try to always be available also."

"When will I expect to see a change?" I asked.

"By tomorrow morning. Don't try to get out of bed. Its best if you stay comfortable and around only a few people. You don't want to be overwhelmed by other peoples' emotions. I'll be next door to you and so will Jacob. Will, Henry, Chris and Louis will be on the second floor. Louis will check on you from time to time. I think we better go to bed now. Travis insisted

Everyone helped clear the table except for Jacob and me. John tried to help but Travis would not hear of it. I felt like the wife who just told her husband that she was pregnant. Jacob on the other hand seemed still lost in his own world.

Travis wanted to carry me up to my room, something that he was sure he would enjoy, but I wanted to show that I was still a capable person and so tried to stand up on my own. I felt the blood leave his head and became dizzy and it was only the combination of Jacob catching me and the support of the table that I did not fall down.

"Are you sure you don't want me to carry you up stairs dear?" Travis laughed

"Just for calling me "dear" no. I know you just was an excuse to take advantage of me." I joked.

"Its "mutual" advantage dear, "mutual". He laughed back.

In the end I compromised and allowed Jacob and Travis to supportme on either side. HI was guided into the bathroom and stripped of clothing and placed in a tub filled with water.

"Your penis is even more alluring in person then on video." Travis whispered in my ear.

"You had me recorded during my exam." I asked.

"You can't blame me for wanting to see your package." He said as he gripped it and gave it a few tugs.

"I thought you wanted to wait."

"I do, I'm just inspecting it to see that its ok." Travis laughed

"Oh sure." I laughed, knowing he was joking. Jacob also smiled as he watched the interplay.

I got out of the tub with their help. could not believe how weak he felt. I felt that I was losing my manly image by needing help to get out of a tub. I thought that I would not have to worry about that until I was in my 80's.

I dressed himself into a pair of gray boxers and shirt and was carried by Travis on to the bed. For about a half an hour he laid in bed next to me, rubbing my stomach to sooth me to sleep. I was half asleep when I felt him kiss me good night.

During the night I slept fitfully, something was wrong and it was coming from Jacob's room. I called out to Jacob to ask him if he was all right but found that I'd lost my voice. It seemed though that I did not need it since the door to Jacob's room opened and Jacob came in.

"I've never slept by myself before." I heard Jacob say without talking.

I sensed that Jacob was scared and lonely. I saw images of him growing up always being around other people. Jacob was a true social creature, he did not know how to deal with being alone. I patted the spot next to me on the bed. He seemed to understand and quietly got under the covers.

"I love you." I heard Jacob say in my mind. "Thank you for choosing me."

I turned around to face him and could see tears in his eyes. I also realized that Jacob was completely naked under the sheets.

"Going commando." I thought.

"Yep," Jacob returned with a happy emotion.

"Goodnight Jacob." I thought with an image of a smile.

Jacob smiled back and it was then that he reached for me with both arms and legs. It was like the time with Gordon only this time it was a grown young man.

"Oh well," I thought, not even trying to untangle myself.

"Me happy." Jacob replied.

Before falling asleep, I remembered I had forgotten to call my wife. It would be the last time I would remember for the next six weeks.