The Guinea Pig Incident

Alyx felt an odd tugging sensation that pulled her away from the mental sea she was doing her best to get lost upon. She wasn’t enjoying it all that much, anyway; the euphoria, the false pleasure of being carried along, was a pale imitation of last night’s high. Stage Five must alter her perceptions somewhat. Or maybe it was the minds she was in contact with here, all focused on their lives and not trying to run away from them. So she allowed herself to be drawn back to herself, to close out those other minds, bringing her shields back up into place.

She opened her eyes to see Darien looking down at her in concern. “You called?”

Darien let out a laugh that was only slightly tinged with hysteria. He’d been ‘calling’ her for three hours now. “Welcome back.”

Sitting up, still groggy with the sedative in her system, she wrapped her arms about his neck and buried her face against his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t….”

“Hush. I’m just glad to have you back.” He moved her away so he could look her in the eye. Those beautiful silver eyes of hers, which were so expressive and conveyed so much without words. “Next time talk to me, okay? I’ll beat up the ‘Fish to get you a break.”

“Sorry,” she repeated as the tears began to fall. She had just gotten so tired a being what everyone saw her as - super-agent, computer tech, scientist, lab rat - that when the toxin had kicked in, there was no way in hell she was just going to sit back and let them ‘fix’ it. “I’m just so tired, Dare.”

“I know, sweets. I know. And I should have done something about it sooner.” When she tried to speak again, he set a finger to her lips. “Sleep, you still have sedative running through you.” Shifting them, he got her to lie down on her side, his arms wrapped about her protectively. When her breathing finally evened out and the tears began to dry, he whispered, “I’m sorry, too.”

When Alyx walked into the bar Head a few days later, she knew she was not going to be greeted with smiles of joy. The door had a rough board replacing the glass she had shattered, and the back wall where she had ripped out the window was in much the same state. As she approached the bar, several patrons, who remembered her from her last visit, moved away, wanting no part of the trouble she was bringing with her this time. The bartender glowered at her and was preparing to order her to leave when she pulled out a rather thick envelope and set it on the cracked and stained wood of the bar.

“For the damages,” she said quietly. Some minimal research had revealed that the hulking, slightly overweight bartender was also the owner, which was the reason for the very cool reception.

Lifting the envelope, he thumbed through the cash within, his eyes widening at the amount.

“The cards inside are legitimate contractors who will handle the repairs for well within that amount.” A polite way of saying she was buying him off, as well.

He grunted, and the envelope disappeared under his apron. “Don’t make a habit of it.” His way of saying she was welcome back anytime. He sealed it with his next words. “Can I get you a drink? On the house.”

Alyx shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m working right now.” A lie - she had just come from work, wanting to tie up a few loose ends left hanging from her little adventure the other night. He gave her a sharp nod and turned his attention to the guy down the end who was waving for another drink. Leaving the bar, she headed to the back where the booths were. The one she’d destroyed had yet to be repaired, the table lying on its side in the half circle of the s Sli Sliding along the seat, she moved to the back and, while sitting on her knees, peeled up the cheap painted plywood that was mounted between the back of the seat and the wall. Working quickly, she picked up the item she knew to be back there with her mind and Quicksilvered it as soon as it was in her hand.

With a casual stride, she left the bar, never intending to visit the place again. Arriving at her car, she set the small cloth bag down on the console between the front seats and drove home.


Darien was waiting for her when she arrived and gave her a light kiss when she stopped before him. He had no idea why she’d asked him to meet her here, other than just wanting to get together like always. He’d been surprised to find her not at home when he arrived and had thought that maybe he’d misunderstood her. “Hey, what’s up?”

She gave him a wan smile. “Come here.” Taking his hand, she led him over to her bed and proceeded to close all the curtains, leaving them in a snug cocoon of filtered light. She peeled out of her coat and shoes and directed him to sit in the center of the bed.

“Alyx…”

She shook he head and stood on the bed over him, her right hand held out cupping… something. Then she turned her hand over and something began to rain down on his legs. After a second of stunned silence, he realized what it was. The jewels, the gemstones they’d stolen on that night of Quicksilver madness. They poured down, bouncing off his body and across the bed, the whites, reds, greens, and blues glinting in the light. When the flow stopped, she tossed the empty bag away, the Quicksilver falling from it as it fell and then went to her knees, straddling him.

“I seem to recall a bit of imagery involving these stones, a bed, and me.” Alyx wrapped her arms about his neck, waiting for him to respond. For a moment, she was afraid she’d done the wrong thing, but she had promised to go back and get them. They were his prize for that night. Butbe hbe he was feeling guilty over it, maybe… Then he was kissing her, his hands sliding underneath the plain T-shirt she was wearing to run over her back.

“Umm, yes, but it involved far fewer clothes.” Damn, if she wasn’t just full of surprises. Slipping the shirt off her, he kissed her on the throat as she laughed in joy. It was good to have her happy again.

“Freedom is a package deal - with it come responsibilities and consequences. ” I just sometimes wish the strength required to shoulder that freedom wasn’t so very hard to come by. Even the strongest eventually breaks and looks for the easy way out, to evade the inevitable results of our actions. For even if no one else places blame, places that weight on us, we tend to do it ourselves. And it’s often our very own selves who add that final straw that breaks our backs.


Finis