Kyle and Chekof waited until all those who were imprisoned there were taken out. In total there were 42 but some looked to be near death. They were the last to leave, each carrying a person they loved. They were able to find an elevator and rode up in silence, both protective of their burdens. Kent sat on Lana's chest with tentacles wrapped around her, nudging her. While Kyle couldn't hear it, he was imploring his mother to wake up.
On the main floor, the lobby was quite full. Darith came running over. He saw the state of the girl introduced as Blaine's bodyguard in the heir's arms.
"Master Blaine, what happened?"
"My grandmother and I got into a fight. She's dead. I'll be taking over. I need her body put into a casket to take her remains home. I need the lawyers to draw up the paperwork to turn all assets over to my trust."
"Master Blaine, all assets are in your trust already. We just need to hand control over to you. That should be easy."
Kyle nodded. "I'll still be in school so I will be appointing someone to handle things until I'm done."
"Of course, Master Blaine. Your friend is walking out." Darith pointed.
"Thank you!"
Lana started waking up and Kyle made sure she was okay.
She chuckled, "I'm fine, you two. I just got a little upset is all."
"Let's not worry your future husband like that again, okay?"
She chuckled, "yes, My Love."
Lana and Kyle saw Chekof carrying a person out the door and ran to catch up. They managed to do so just as he was placing the man in a vehicle that resembled a medical van.
"Chekof, let Kyle heal him." Lana said. She looked at him then gasped. "Don't touch him!"
Kent jumped from her shoulder and smelled the man in the same spot Lana stared. Kent hissed then growled. Lana's jaw locked and her eyes started glowing.
"Kent, smell the others who were taken from there. See if they have the same problem."
Without hesitating, the kitten started jumping from person to person. He had very little practice jumping so it was adorable watching him splash instead of land gracefully the way cats normally do. The others around him tried to block him but Chekof stopped them, "what is it Lana?"
"There's a booby trap. If you use the healing ability, this thing here…." She took a deep, slow breath. "There is something wrapped around the lung here, with its mouth on the heart, here." She pointed to each spot. "In addition, there is a strange energy. It's like this thing will explode if the healing ability is used, instantly killing the host."
Kent returned to Lana and gave his report.
"Kyle, heal those two there. I need to try something."
Lana worked on concentrating as she heard Chekof state, "they were recently taken, within the last two weeks."
Lana could feel the thing in the body struggling as she engulfed it in her Qi. She realized this thing was feeding off the life energy in the body. She knew she couldn't heal Chekof's brother with this thing in place, but could she kill it?
She decided to try something she had never done before but she needed to do something. She focused on the Qi in the entity and transferred it to the host. The thing began to shrink and the head was receding from the heart area. It began struggling to try to stay near the heart as though it was part of the programming. Is this thing organic? Did they create this?
Lana realized the more she did this, the smaller it was. The pressure on the lungs was letting up as the head focused on trying to get back to the heart. Lana realized that was where the explosive material was, in the head. This thing was designed to blow up the heart. Realization dawned on her "to make it look like a heart attack!" she said out loud.
Her focus remained on the task at hand while, unknown to her, her patient's color was returning and he was waking up. He heard her words, "excuse me?" He started looking around. "Aiden! Aiden, you're here… Where is here? Do you know this girl? Boy? What is this….?"
"Asa, this is not the time for questions. Lay still. Let her work."
Trusting in his brother, he lay back, staying still.
"Chekof," Lana didn't even look up, "this is really risky. I need your permission to try something even more risky. I think it's your brother's only chance."
Chekof looked ready to kill. "Do it."
Lana nodded. She turned back to her patient who was suddenly shaking.
"Chekof?" Asa chuckled, "Chekof!" He laughed even harder, "you damned Trekkie, Aiden!"
Lana had no idea what was so funny or what a Trekkie was. She grabbed Asa by the collar and pulled his face toward hers and growled.
"Do you want to die?"
Seeing the seriousness in her face and hearing it in her voice, "I'm sorry…" he gulped.
She lay him back down, placed both hands on his shoulders and mentally sent a sharp Qi attack at the head praying her idea would work.
It did, just not in the way she expected. What actually happened was Qi shot from her thumbs which were inadvertently pointed toward the heart. The two energies triangulated where the head was and destroyed it.
Lana exhaled. "It worked. Purely by accident, mind you, but it worked. Kyle, can you heal him please?"
Lana backed up, keeping Kent with her.
She brought her watch up and looked for a specific name. Technically, they were not allowed to call teachers without prior permission. What she feared, happened. She was unable to call the one she needed. So, she did the next best thing. Her call was answered within moments.
Seeing his face on her watch, before he could even speak, "Dr. Tall. I have an emergency and need to get a hold of Sergeant Tanaka. There are lives on the line and I fear only he can help."
Doctor Tall touched a few things, "I'm going to have someone teleport him to your location."
"Thank you!" She disconnected the call.
She tapped the robot, "mom have you been listening?"
"Yes, but I don't fully understand. Are you saying Abel Genetics has created an assassination mechanism and has placed it in their victims which we just rescued?"
"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it was used to control certain employees as well…"
"Lana, I found the files. They're password protected. Running decryption codes now."
"Chek… Aiden, did any vehicles leave with your people? If so, they need to come back."
Lana heard a conversation along those lines. It seemed Aiden wasn't calling any shots but the one in charge of this vehicle listened.
"Cadet Lana, you called for me?"
She turned around to find Sergeant Tanaka dressed in full gear with a teleporting sergeant she knew quite well from her time working with Doctor Tall. He must have used the location data from her watch to find her.
"Sergeant Tanaka, we are in desperate need of your use of Qi. I'm already quite tired. I may be able to heal one or 2 more before I'm done. Look at this man's chest area," Lana pointed.
He did as she asked and his lips pursed. "What exactly am I looking at?"
Lana explained everything so far. "I still need to check the others. Some vehicles left and they need to return so I can check them."
Sergeant Tanaka replied, "go do that. I'll work on these gentlemen."
Lana, Kyle and Kent went off to inspect the other vehicles. Of those still in the area, there were nine that needed attention. Lana had them juggle people around so all could leave but one vehicle plus the one Sergeant Tanaka was working in. They pulled the three healed ones out that, put in three others and parked the other vehicle next to that one. Lana didn't notice the teleporting guy had left but saw him come back with another.
"Sergeant Rage? You can use Qi?" Lana asked in shock.
He chuckled, "just point me where I'm needed. Kai already explained the situation though I'm not aware of how you became involved in all of this?"
Lana smiled sheepishly, "I'll have to fill you in later. It's a long story and I see those airships coming in."
After looking at all the passengers that returned, only 10 needed help. Once again, passengers were juggled around and the "sick" bus was lined up. These not infected or no longer infected were released to their families. Lana had to convince Aiden and his brother to go so room would be made for the sick people. One mention of his wife from Lana and Aiden agreed to go. One healthy man insisted on staying when he realized what was going on. He called himself Mr. Silverwolf.
"Lana," the little robot on her shoulder spoke to her once again. Kent smacked it but didn't have his claws extended.
"Yes, mom?"
"I'm in the files. I need Blaine. He has a badge, yes?"
"We both have one but I have not tried mine."
"I'm actually on the way there with your friends. I can guide you from here and meet you once I get there. In the basement on sublevel C, there is a room for his exclusive use. In the area where the babies are made, there is a door marked Blaine. That is the room you need."
"Yes Ma'am." She relayed the information to Kyle.
Mr. Silverwolf placed a hand on her shoulder, "I heard it all. Go. I'll update everyone."
Lana nodded and they ran. They thought they knew where they were going. Blaine noticed the room but tried to ignore it because it made his skin crawl seeing his name on a door in a building he'd never been in before.