Chapter Nineteen: Liquid Gold by Tina Semanas "Here, put this on," a cotton white hotel robe was thrown to Beck who was still rubbing her eyes trying to wake up. Ara was also wearing a similiar robe as she walked into the large bathroom turning on the shower to a scorching hot setting. Waiting for the room to steam up she stood by the door waving for Beck to join her. "I think it is safe enough to talk." Ara said. "First of all, how are you feeling? You were knocked out for the whole night and most of the morning?" "My head is throbbing and every muscle aches. I need to sit down, I feel sick." Beck leaned against the damp white tile wall of the bathroom and slid to the floor while rubbing the temples of her head. "I'm glad we are in the bathroom, I may need that toilet in a second." Ara walked over to where Beck was sitting and joined her on the floor. She said, "Ms. Paris, I can't tell you how sorry I am to see you like this. I have always been a big fan of yours, I just wish I didn't have to meet you for the first time under such horrible circumstances." "Yeah, horrible is a good way to describe it. . .and why am I here? . . . And how did you end up working with that dragon-lady, Dr. Gladstone?" Beck grumbled. "Shhhhh, I still am not sure how much they can hear? I know there are cameras in our main room, I am just hoping the noise of the shower and the steam blocks out most of the sound." Ara stood up to get Beck a drink of water from the sink, and sat back down handing her a cold glass. "Ms. Paris, I really don't know how to explain this whole crazy situation to you, but I am asking for you to trust me. You are in big trouble." "You don't think I know that? So Ara, how do you know so much? And why should I even trust a 12 year old?" Beck rubbed the cool side of the glass on her hot forhead. Ara looked at Beck in the eyes with a suprising intensity, "Because I am smarter than they think I am, and I am not going to be anyone's child spy! That's why!" After taking a sip from the glass, Beck replied, "Spy? What exactly does that mean? And who are you spying for, that Gladstone woman? She wants to use your apparent innocence to get info out of me, huh? Well I have nothing to hide, because I don't know anything! I'm just a washed up Dowager who is of no use to anyone. Maybe Lacy was right, I was nothing but a product of the state, a plastic doll keeping people stupid, happy and entertained? And for what use...to be shackeled in diamond chains by those power hungry Sisters? What I could use right now is a stiff drink." Ara quickly stood up and said, "That's it! Lacy's place! I still have her key. If we can slip out of here - as one of the five I have been given my own security escort that is to be loyal to me - I am sure we can travel unnoticed and then hole up there for awhile, let you get some rest, because I have an idea." "Oh, no!" Beck insisted, "I am not going anywhere near that beast of a woman. Not only does Lacy still hate me, but she won't stop until I get her some of Athan's money. And don't let her fool you Ara, I am sure she can't stand you either." "You haven't heard?" Ara replied, "Lacy is dead." --------------------------------------------------------------- The Rock House was a good hour hike through dense woods and some steep rocky trails of the southern Ohio hills. Midway up a 150 foot Blackhand sandstone cliff, a dirt trail led to two large openings naturally formed out of the massive rock walls. Don led the group of ten people through a 25 foot archway that brought them into a vast cavern patrolled by four armed gaurds. "Any sign of trouble today?" Don asked a muscular bearded man standing ready by the cave's opening. "No Don, it has been a relatively quiet day. All ten of the chemists you asked for are already inside. Is it really true? Have you found a way to actually block the Xenon? I haven't heard from my brother the past year since they shipped him off to the factory, and I would do anything to see him alive and well and in his right mind?" Don, squeezing the man's shoulder, offered him words of reassurance, "I have complete confidence that we can help your brother and other's like him. Do you see that man at the back of the line? He was given the formula we developed and he is fine. Not only has he been restored to health, but he is completely immune from the Xenon drips ever effecting him again. It is amazing! That is why we are here my friend, keep praying for us!" "Will do," the man said after wiping a tear off his cheek. "Good luck Don." Near the middle of the cavern a rough hewn passage way was cut into the heart of the mountain hill. Don punched in a five digit passcode on the wall lock which opened up the two thick steel doors leading down a long hallway. At the end of the hallway was another double door leading into a entry room where a female attendant welcomed Don with a hug. "Jenny, great to see you. Could you outfit each man with a lab coat, gloves and mask? We have 10 in our group." She replied, "Sure thing... this is an exciting day." Athan walked up to Don and whispered into his ear, "Don, while you and the other men go into the lab, I would like to go back and peek into the surveillance room. I need to catch a glimpse on what is going on in the outside world. Ever since the bombing of the Dayton shelter and our crazy drive here, I haven't had the faintest idea what is going on. Besides, you don't need me for your research, that is not my expertise." Don looked at him and said, "If you want to Athan, go ahead? I know this is about Beck. Just be careful and watch your heart. She has to be a target by now and we are so close, I wouldn't want to do anything to stop us from setting the men in captivity free." Athan curtly replied, "Don, you can trust me. I just need to know." A worried look remained on Don's face as he nodded approval for Athan to leave. The rest of the group was outfitted while waiting to enter the next door leading to a complex laboratory of high-tech computers, test tubes, cold rooms, and chemists. A pint sized Asain lady approached the group and asked, "Which one of you is Phen Dias? We need to start right away taking some of your blood - - come with me into the next room." Jonathan, who was buttoning up a long white labcoat, winked at Phen with a smile, "You better listen to her, Nika runs this lab. And if you are not careful, she knows how to draw your blood while causing as much pain as possible!" Nika turned to Jonathan with wry smile, "Shut your mouth Jonathan! Or you may be next!" Phen followed the stoic serious lady without uttering a word. She had him sit down on a 4 foot table with a white paper pulled across the top. Wrapping a rubber cord around his arm she waited for the vein on Phen's forarm to swell up. After drawing four quick vials of blood, she handed them to Don smiling, "Here it is, liquid gold, we don't need your formula now. His body has naturally produced in no time what we have been wracking our heads for years to figure out!" Turning to Phen she said, "Here is some orange juice, keep drinking because we are going to need more of your blood. Consider yourself a permanent resident of this place for awhile. You are the new Rock House Blood Bank!" Before taking a sip, Phen rolled his eyes saying, "Whatever it takes, whatever it takes!" -------------------------------------------------------- The flight from Manhatten to Cleveland was a short two hours on the state owned small jet that was requisitioned for Ara's private use. She was right, flying under the insignia of the five turtle-doves of the Conclave shielded her from any questions and monitoring by the local Tergamant gaurds she saw patrolling in their tan Rovers around the airport. Waiting for Ara at the tarmac was a large pink Rover fully equipped with heavy armor and stealth capacity cloaking equiptment so they couldn't be followed or watched by any satellite uplinks. When the small jet came to a stop, Ara and Beck ran quickly to the Rover with heads hanging low each carrying a small bag of clothes. "Hurry Beck, I don't want to be spotted by any regular spying drones that are always hovering around for security purposes." "I'm trying to keep up. My head is still throbbing, not to mention my stomach is completely emptied out from that terrible terbulance over New Jersey." Beck said as she ducked into the large vehicle. Once inside the quiet of the Rover she looked at the driver and asked, "Do you have any soda water in this tank? I need something to calm my stomach and my nerves?" In the side panel of the Rover there was a drink dispenser that Beck punched the number for a pink sparkling water and a shot of Gin. After the bright liquid was squirted into a small crystal glass Beck took a long swallow letting the cool drink slide down her throat slowly. She then turned to Ara and asked, "So sweetie, what is your plan and how can you assure me this is not a Gladstone trap? I know how she works." Ara replied, "Because she is expecting me to head to the new Condominium in the upscale part of the city. She thinks I will be going there. She looks at me only as a stupid little girl that ony wants the frills and special amneties of power. I guess the apartment is fully equipped with a new wardrobe, chef, and full service bed, bath, spa, work out facility and pool. The attendents are waiting for me to come and start my leadership training there." Beck looked skeptical, "Yeah, but don't they know you are meeting with me?" "They think I am bringing you back there too where a secret police unit is waiting to bring you into state custody. And I hate to even think about it, but I overheard Dr. Gladstone on her flat pad say they want to extract information from you, and they will use any means possible. I think she even gave them permission to drain you of your bodily fluids while still keeping your brain and senses fully functioning if you are unwilling to talk..." "You mean they want to use the Extirpation Procedure on me? Ara, I have read about that. That is only used for exile runaways...suspended animation of sheer torture and hell. How do I know you can protect me from that? I want out of here?" Beck pushed open the Rover door getting ready to jump even though the Rover was already traveling fast. "No Beck!" Ara quickly leaned over to grab the door to shut it while pulling Beck back at the same time. Catching her breath Ara continued, "Why would I tell you that if I was going to hand you over? Trust me - I dislike Gladstone as much as you do. Her evil system full of power hungry, blood thirsty women killed my mom and made a drone out of my dad for crying out loud!" Ara swallowed back hot tears. Turning toward Beck with a reassuring look, she continued, "Beck, I am sure they completely forgot about Lacy's apartment. After they killed her they were too busy getting ready to travel to New York. Her place is being ignored. It is the perfect cover for you, and you can have your old room back. Besides, I know the equiptment Lacy was stashing in the back room, it is some highly lethal stuff. You can use it to protect yourself." "I guess I have no other choice. I am sure they already confiscated Athan's place. So that leaves me without a home. I'm at an impasse." Beck buried her face in her hands. Ara replied, "Don't worry, it is a 15 minute drive and you will see, Lacy's apartment is perfectly safe." The rest of the drive the two passengers remained silent. 15 minutes later the sign for M. Sanger Luxury Condominiums overlooking Lake Eve was in view. "Driver, please pull to the front." Getting out, both Beck and Ara carried a single bag up the stairs to apartment number 217. Reaching in her coat pocket, Ara pulled out a small card key. Beck grabbed it and said, "Here, I will take the key. I want to go in alone because I need a few minutes to myself, there are alot of bad memories I have left behind here." Ara stepped back and sat down against the other wall waiting for Beck to have some time and space to herself. After inserting the card key, a green light above the knob flashed letting Beck know the lock was released. Pushing open the door a bright yellow powder flash and loud boom sounded, sending Beck's body flying backward slamming against the opposite wall. Ara saw her limp body come crashing to the floor, a partial hole was blown out of the side of the door and wall. Black smoke was curling through the air. Ara's eardrums where popped. "Beck, Beck..." A high pitch ring was piercing Ara's skull, and trying to form her mouth to speak, all she heard was a hollow tinny scrape of sound that she could decipher coming from her own voice box. "Beck...Beck..." Beck's unresponsive broken body lay flat, with singed hair and a half-twisted leg lying on the floor. Ara ran over to check for a pulse. Leaning next to Beck's face, she felt a small puff of wind. She was still breathing, she needed help fast. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three large projection screens on the wall were playing random footage from the previous week's top news and headlines. Every wall picture displayed talking heads discussing the fate of Beck Paris. Athan had to watch. Asking if he could sit in one of the seats in the surveillance room, he sat down turning up the sound on one of the live feeds. "Beck Paris completely embarrassed herself this weekend..." A plastic, yet perfect, female reporter said staring into the camera, "Not only did she show extreme hatred and bigotry toward a few of the beauty contestants, but she openly mocked the current government of our state. No word yet has been recieved from the representatives of the Doyenne Council if they will prosecute Beck Paris. One thing is for sure, her career is over." On the screen flashed the last night of the Vanity festivities, Beck was outfitted in a black dress with a simple string of pearls and matching earings. Athan instantly remembered to himself, "That is the exact outfit she was wearing on our first date. I told her that was my favorite look. She wore that for me." Picking up his flat phone, Athan knew he needed to find her. He knew this dress was a message - - she could be trusted completely. Dialing yet getting no answer, Athan in desperation said out loud, "Oh Beck, where are you? I am sorry. I am so sorry."
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