The lights were a dim illumination on the stairs that spiraled down into the bowels of the Earth. After several minutes of spiraling down, Max came up behind a crouched Teeshan who was signaling for a halt. Max paced up quietly behind Tee and looked over his shoulder. Ahead was a square room with computer terminals and view screens on the wall. The room was deserted this time of night. Most of the view screens were in a power saving mode and the terminals were all dark. Max signaled one of hys squad to set charges and Sphynx scurried forward setting a couple of charges in hard to see locations and nodded when he was done. Max tapped Tee's shoulder and motioned him forward.

The group made their way silently through the upper facility, which was mainly living and computer access offices, setting charges as they went. The group came to another set of stairs and a freight elevator. Down they went yet again. The next level was a nightmare. They had reached the labs. There were dead and dissected morphs of every kind on autopsy tables, their insides opened to reveal themselves to the waiting lights and cameras. The smell of disinfectant permeated the air as well as fouler smells. Standing against the wall to the left, vats of liquid with things normally reserved for horror vids were lightly illuminated. Half changed humans floated in suspension, obviously dead. A lone technician in hospital scrubs was cleaning one of the autopsy tables, earphones on her head, oblivious to the death around her. Max made a motion to Tee signaling for him to secure and silence the technician. The look in Tee's eyes made Max wonder if the feline would take the care required to NOT kill the technician, but hy need not have worried. Silent as a whisper, Tee padded behind the technician and with a quick motion, had the female held firm with a hand over her mouth. Max and hys squad quickly made their way into the room and Max stepped forward in front of the scared female.

Max spoke in a low voice. "I'm going to have my friend release your mouth and you're going to answer a few questions, if you try to scream or shout for help... Well, lets just say that would not be advisable, yes?"

The lady's eyes went wide and she nodded jerkily once in Tee's arms. Max nodded to Tee, who removed his hand from her mouth but still held her tight.

"What is your name?" Max asked in a voice close to death itself.

"M...m...mm...Murta..." she managed to stammer.

"Murta, you are going to tell me where they are holding the prisoners, and your going to do so in such a way, that I will have no doubt in my mind that you are telling the truth, or I will be forced to use the talents my genes give me to take it from your mind," hy said coldly. Of course Max wouldn't have ever done that, but she didn't know it.

>>>

A timid technician in scrubs walked into the holding area of the facility. None of the guards questioned her being there; they were used to seeing her around the area tending to the various needs of the Doctors as well as the beasts in their cages. There were only two guards on duty and they waved to her as she walked in. She smiled at them and waved back heading to their location. One of the guards buzzed her into the guard checkpoint and she walked in with a sigh.

"Rough night Murta?" one of the guards joked.

Murta just nodded and sat in a chair between the two guards who were monitoring the view screens that showed rows and rows of locked cages. The morphs inside looked to be in varying stages of abuse. Both guards turned back to their duties paying her no more mind until they both felt a cold contact against their necks and then sweet oblivion.

Looking around Murta made sure no one else was around and then touched her chest. The holoprojector shut off and a skunk morph sat there looking tired and resigned at what hy saw on the view screens. Max quickly triggered the door release letting the rest of hys crew inside. Hy then opened the door to the guard post and motioned to the screens on the wall. "We need to get all of these prisoners out of here and a lot of them don't look very healthy. We will need to quarantine them until we can ascertain if they have been experimented on. Everyone spread out and keep them quiet. Find the healthiest of the bunch and release them, let the rest know that we are going to get them out of here. Move," hy ordered in a quiet voice.

With that, the squad split up and started their task. There were a total of 29 prisoners, only 4 of them were in any real condition to lead the group out. The rest were mobile but some only barely. Nee came to Max and said, "Max, there is something you should see." She led hym off towards a cell. Inside was a skunktaur in bad shape. On the cage door was a placard with the name Zytell. Max inhaled sharply and then nodded to Nee. Max looked over hys shoulder and said to the Sergeant, "We have a little time, get them all food and water, but don't let them gorge, make them eat and drink slowly. They are going to need the energy."

They got the prisoners fed and watered and then started to evacuate them towards the cargo lift. The lift was large enough to fit all 29 prisoners and Max told one of the four healthy ones, "When you get to the top, we have incapacitated the guards up there. Stay in the barracks when you get there. As soon as we finish down here we will get you all to a Federation hospital and get you all healthy again. Sergeant, take Sphynx with you and keep watch over these people. Tee, Nee and I will finish setting the explosives and get out of here. Prep the topside for transport. Coordinate with the ship and be ready to move as soon as this place blows. When I give the signal, drop the transport inhibitor and get everyone to the Cartwright"

"What about you, Sir?" he asked.

"I'll be right on your tail, I brought transport enhancers with me, we'll be getting out of here too trust me," Max said putting a hand on the Sergeant's shoulder. Sheppard nodded and herded the prisoners onto the lift and with a final nod, the lift headed up. Max looked at Tee and Nee and said, "Let's finish this. Get the charges in place and let's move on."

They continued their way through the complex laying charges at critical locations. On the lowest level the stairwell opened into a single corridor that looked to have been polished to a mirror sheen. The three of them quietly padded down the hallway until suddenly a voice came from nowhere. "You are quite the nuisance Starfleet, I think that ends here," and with that the hallway flickered as electricity coursed through their bodies and they dropped to the floor unconscious.

Max fought hys way through the blackness of unconsciousness and blinked hys eyes open looking around. He was in what looked like a lab room. He was strapped to an autopsy table and it had been raised to where hy was almost in a standing position. Beside the table, is what looked like some kind of gory horror movie torture kit, sitting there clean and shiny. Max looked down noticing hy was in nothing but hys fur, they had taken all of hys gear. Hy twitched hys tail experimentally and it wasn't strapped down although it was a bit cramped clamped to the table straight down between hys legs. He couldn't see Nee or Tee anywhere and hy only hoped they were OK.

"Ah, welcome back to the land of the living Mr. Pilumnus, or should I say JC?" Roberts voice said floating in from the open doorway. Robert stepped in immaculately dressed as per usual. "You've cost me a great deal of money JC, and after everything I've done for you."

Max snorted, "You mean when you turned me into a walking suicide bomber?"

"Oh, believe me, that was a difficult decision, I liked you quite a bit JC. But the mission had to move on and there wasn't anyone else I quite trusted with it more than you. I even mourned your impending death. You wouldn't believe how upset I was when there was no big, glorious explosion on Chakona," Robert said angrily. "Not only did you survive, but you went native!" he laughed maniacally. "You went and fucked a gene freak and had a bastardized freak in the process," Robert snarled. "Then you went and fucked up the raid on Starbase 241. Do you have any idea how long it took to get someone onto that base and set up the raid? You cost me millions, you traitor to mankind!" he practically screeched, a glint of madness in his eyes.

"Imagine my surprise when my agent told me that you were there, on base, and under her care. It was the perfect opportunity to repay your failure, so I told her to trigger the next stage of your change. That should have killed you where your failed to die on Chakona, but NO! Even she betrayed me due to professional curiosity and helped you to survive your change. Again you didn't die. She is just lucky her new position on the station makes her more valuable alive than dead," he purred.

"And here you are, costing me more money again. Don't worry, the freaks you released aren't going to make it off the base, I've already called for reinforcements. They should be here shortly, and this time, you will finally die, but for a good cause. We will find out why your changes worked and others haven't so far. You will be the template I use to make more faithful followers and bring the downfall of the gene freaks," he breathed. "And when the new war kicks off, we will eradicate them from the face of the planet and humans will once again be the masters of Earth!" he exhaled spittle flying from his lips in almost religious fervor.

"How did I never see it before?" Max breathed.

"See what? The righteousness of our cause?" Robert asked eagerly.

"No, how utterly insane you are. The Earth can't survive another war, Robert. There are already areas that are only just now recovering from what we did to it. If you try to go the same route again, then the Earth will burn and no one will be able to live here. It's suicide," Max said pleadingly.

"Then we will take another world for our own until Earth recovers. The freaks will be eradicated or they will serve humanity as is there place, as slaves," Robert said the last part in a sibilant whisper.

"You really are insane Robert," Max said sadly.

"You just lack the clarity of vision that I have, and now that you are back, we can find out what makes you tick and pass it on to those more deserving than you. Maybe I'll see about acquiring your offspring as well. You may have passed on some interesting traits to them too," Robert said with malice.

Max's eyes went ice cold as hy stared at Robert. "You'll never lay a finger on my children, of that I am completely sure."

Robert smirked. "Not that you will live long enough to know that. You get to be project number one when everyone gets here in the morning. Enjoy what little time you have left, JC. I wonder if there is a heaven or a hell for gene freaks like you. I guess you'll find out soon. Now I have business to attend to. Goodbye JC, I don't expect we'll be seeing each other again. Don't worry though; I'll be sure to take really good care of your family," he said with a malicious smile and walked out of the room cutting the lights behind him.

Max laid hys head back on the table and sighed. Then concentrating, hy curled hys tail up between hys legs and towards hys right hand. Hy quickly checked hys tail, and sure enough, the holster was still hiding in the fur, good thing they don't check tails, hy thought with a grin. Hy removed hys knife from the sheath and quickly sawed hys way through the straps releasing hymself to the ground in a low crouch. He replaced the knife and took the small Type 1 out and set it to a high stun setting. Hy then quickly searched the local area and didn't find hys gear. Hy closed hys eyes and reached out with hys mind and quickly found Tee and Nee as well as several people acting as guards. 'Zyndil, you there?' Max sent.

Zyndil appeared in front of Max smiling, 'I was wondering how long it would take you to get out of there. Klara owes me a coffee!'

Max snorted and sent, 'I'm so glad I could help with your caffeine fix. Were you able to relay everything that Robert just said?'

'Yes Sir, we already have people alerting others on the station. Doctor Geelaine will be in custody shortly. What do you need me to do?' hy asked.

'I'm reading Tee and Nee not far away and there are a few guards along the way, I need recon and Intel. Also if you can find my gear I would appreciate it,' hy sent.

'No problem boss, be back in a jiffy,' and with a smirk, and was gone.

Max waited patiently for a bit and Zyndil returned. 'Your gear is two doors down on the left. The twins are in the holding area and there are three guys in suits standing guard. They don't look friendly either,' hy said blandly.

'Thanks, get a hold of your dad, tell hym what's going on here. Also do me a favor, put a couple of people on my house and family. Robert hinted that he may be going after them. I'll get the twins and see if I can't get Robert as well. Then I'm blowing this place into a crater,' Max sent coldly.

'Aye Commander, I'm on it. Be careful please, I don't want to have to explain to your family what happened if you blow yourself up,' Zyndil sent and then disappeared. Max stuck hys head out of the door quickly checking both directions and padded silently to where hys gear was stored. He quickly got suited back up and stuffed the twin's gear into a duffel to bring along. Hy then put the Type 1 back in hys holster and pulled out the collapsible phase rifle and checked the charge on it. Hy then quietly worked hys way to the holding area.

Max saw two of the guards standing by the doors to the holding area. Max knelt in the shadows and took careful aim and dropped one of the guards with hys first shot, but before he could get off a second, the rifle flew from hys hands as the guard stared at him. 'What the hell? Where did a telekinetic human come from?' Max grumbled then sprinted towards the guard only to be stopped suddenly as hy was lifted into the air. Max struggled against unseen forces holding hym in the air and then stopped.

The guard hadn't moved, it was a fairly good guess the guard had to use all of his concentration to keep Max where hy was, so instead, Max closed hys eyes and used hys mind to trace the energies holding him back to the human and with a grunt of effort entered his mind. From anyone on the outside, it simply looked like Max was floating in the air asleep and after several minutes, the guard let out a groan and slumped to the floor. Max fell to hys kneels holding hys head and groaning.

'Well, THAT wasn't fun,' hy murmured to no one in particular. Shaking it off, Max rose and went to the door. Quietly hy eased the door open and slipped inside.

The other guard was there, but so to was Robert. He was talking animatedly to the guard and gesturing to the cages. Max lifted the rifle again and took careful aim at the large guard and squeezed off a shot. The guard dropped like a pole axed cow and Robert spun, an antique projectile firearm in is hand and quickly pointed it at the cage Max assumed the twins were in.

"I'm not sure how you escaped JC," Robert snarled. "But if you don't drop the rifle now, you'll have one cub that is motherless," he swore as he thumbed the hammer back on the firearm.

Max swore, where the hell was Robert getting his information from??? "No one left, Robby boy," hy teased. "It's just you and me now. If you kill the cats, then I'll kill you, if you turn your weapon away from the cats I'll shoot you. I think they call this a standoff. Tell you what, you drop your weapon and I'll drop mine and we can finish this like men. Human versus morph; lets see who is the better man eh? Or are you too hands off now a days to get your hands dirty?" Max snorted in contempt.

Robert snarled, "I'll destroy you, you gene freak! Drop your weapon."

"You drop yours first, I think that out of the two of us, we know who is the more trustworthy. I give you my word that if you drop your weapon, I'll drop mine and we can settle this," Max said.

Robert snarled something again staring at Max, the he stood straighter, squinting. He eased the hammer down on the pistol and set it on the ground and stepped away only a step. "Your turn, freak."

Max noticed that Robert was still close enough to dive for the handgun, so hy knelt setting the rifle aside with one hand, while the other one removed a little surprise and tucked it up hys sleeve. Max then stood and held both hands up to show hy was unarmed. "Let's do this," hy said.

Robert sneered. "Come and take your medicine, freak. It is time I got rid of you once and for all. Screw the science, you're more trouble than you're worth," he said stepping forward.

Max matched him stride for stride putting his hands down by his side as something slid into hys palm. When they were perhaps 1.2 meters from each other, Robert let out a cry of absolute rage and frustration and flung himself at Max. With a whining sound and a flash, Robert dropped to the floor unconscious as Max held the small Type I in hys hand following Robert to the floor with it. "Never let an opportunity go to win the battle," Max murmured.

Max released the twins who were, other than a few bumps and bruises, no worse for wear. Max setup the transporter enhancers and set the timer on the explosives for 15 minutes. They then tagged everyone for transport and Max tapped hys comm badge.

"Sheppard here, Sir," came a reply.

"Disable the inhibitor and contact the Cartwright. We have hostiles tagged for transport and 15 minutes on the clock. Get everyone off site now. There may be hostiles incoming and I want to be gone and this place to be a smoking crater before they arrive," Max ordered.

"Roger, Sir, stand by," the Sergeant said.

"I think I need a vacation after this," hy said to no one in particular.

"Mind if we join you?" Tee asked.

"Not at all, Brother mine," Max said with a smile looking at the twins.

"Sir, inhibitor is down, prepare for transport," Sheppard said.

"Roger that, Sergeant, transport when ready." And with a whir of energy the ordeal was over.

>>>

I know you were probably hoping for grisly details of a horrendous fight with step by step descriptions of an epic battle between good and evil. I hate to disappoint, but if a plan is laid out well enough, and there is a touch of luck on your side, then things tend to go fairly well. That's not to say there weren't a few bumps along the way but as someone once said, the best plan only lasts until you make contact with the enemy.

Plus this is real life, not some cheesy spy novel, we got lucky to get everyone out alive. The sad news was 7 of the rescued morphs were beyond help and ended up passing away during treatment. I'm not sure how many deaths Robert is responsible for in total, and I'm not sure if we'll ever truly know whether justice was received for everyone, but Robert was going to go away for the rest of his life. At least that was something.