Stacey could feel her blood boiling as she ran towards the main entrance of the hall, reaching the large, glass door she looked behind her hoping that Ben wasn't following her. She was in luck as he was nowhere to be seen. As she pulled the door open she was taken aback as waiting for her on the other side was Ben. Slowly walking towards him, she clenched one of her gloved hands into a fist.
'You lied to me, Ben.' she yelled as she drew nearer to him. She stopped for a moment, befuddled.
'Hold on,' she said as she dropped her hand, 'How did you get out here so fast?'
'He had help,' a female voice said from behind him. Standing next to Ben was Rachel.
Stacey stared at them. Ben closed the gap between him and Stacey.
'I can see that you're confused, Stacey, please allow me to explain. Rachel has the ability to walk thought solid objects that's how I managed to get out of the hall so quickly.'
Stacey strolled away from him as Rachel approached.
'Stacey.' Rachel shouted soothingly, 'Ben was only thinking of you and had your best interests at heart.'
Turning her head towards the other woman and gave her an evil grin.
'Why is he so close to you and your husband?' She snarled through gritted teeth.
'We are close to him because he is like family to us.' Stacey paused and began listening closely, 'You see, Stacey, after your escape from the medical centre, Ben and the other test subjects were branded as failed experiments.'
Stacey looked at her impatiently, 'What has this got to do with you and your husband?'
Rachel gave her a cold look, 'I'm just getting to that. Now… before I married Peter, he wasn't the mayor at that time but worked as a lab assistant for Dr Young. However, it was just a cover so that he could steal some of the serum and test it on himself.'
Stacey's eyes widened as she heard this.
'So, he was a spy ?' She asked, surprised. Rachel nodded.
'And where were you in all of this?' She asked as she felt herself getting angry again.
'I was being held in a lab with Ben,' she said as she paused for a moment, 'While we were being held, Peter began injecting himself with the serum in the next room to us. After a few minutes, there was a loud bang followed by people screaming.'
Stacey looked at her and Ben.
'I still can't understand why you didn't tell me, Ben.' She sobbed, Ben stepped up to her and put his arm around her.
'That night, I thought I was going to die. If it hadn't been for Peter, you and I wouldn't be standing here. If Peter hadn't provided us with the distraction that we needed, we would never have got out of that place alive.'
'But we are alive, aren't we. What happened after you escaped?'
Ben's head dropped and his body tensed, 'Afterwards, I tried to find my family, but the military beat me to it.'
As he paused and took a deep breath, Stacey looked at him in shock. 'What happened, Ben?'
He turned away from her, his eyes on Rachel.
'Stacey, Ben's family, like mine and the rest of the subjects had been placed under arrest and taken to a secret facility,' Rachel visibly sagged, distraught, 'We never got to see them again.'
Stacey moved towards Ben and held him.
'Ben I'm sorry,' she said as she pulled him closer, looking at Rachel. 'How did you meet up again?'
'Ben decided to go away for a few weeks to Florida. When he was there, we ran into each other by chance, only this time I wasn't on my own. Peter was with me.'
'At the time, I was finding it difficult to control my powers. Peter helped me and encouraged me to help other mutants. In return, all he asked was that I helped him with his political career so that he could influence the government on the treatment of mutants.'
Stacey smiled for the first time, 'So, Peter became a mentor to you, babe?' She asked as he lit a cigar.
'Yes, but he became more than just a mentor, he was like a father to me,' he paused as he took a long drag on his cigar, 'Peter was the one who encouraged me to set up the Haven program. He also encouraged me to travel the world to look for mutants who would join our cause.'
'I think you have made him proud, babe. I'm certainly proud of you.'
Letting the cigar fall to the ground, Ben grabbed Stacey and they kissed passionately. Rachel was overjoyed that they had made up and exited through the wall back to the party, leaving them alone.
It was early morning as Trisha got out of bed and viewed her surroundings. She was in a square room near to Dr Young's lab. At the far end of the room in the top corner was a small window. Trisha could see the sun's first rays coming through as she threw off the green bedsheets. Jumping down from the top bunk onto the floor, she bent her knees and sprang away from the bed, landing face down and starting doing press ups. Having done ten, she leapt to her feet. As she grabbed her clothes off the bottom bunk to get dressed, she heard a knock on the door.
'Come in, the doors open,' she politely said as she put on a black tee shirt and a pair of grey trousers.
As the door opened, Dr Young walked into the room, wearing a lab coat, a surgeon's mask and a pair of latex gloves, Trisha looked at her and stood to attention, saluting her.
'Dr Young,' she said, surprised, 'I didn't realise you were coming.'
'I have good news, Trisha,' she said confidently. 'The tests that I carried out on you proved positive,'
Trisha looked at her, wide-eyed with excitement, 'So, does that mean I can be part of your super soldier program, Doctor?'
Dr Young nodded and smiled, 'Out of all the volunteers so far, you are the most physically fit.'
Trisha smiled, 'Thank you, Doctor, but could you tell me what effect the serum will have on me and my body?'
Dr Young came closer to the young woman, 'I'm very glad that you asked me that question,' she said enthusiastically as she sat next to her on the bunk bed, 'The serum will increase your strength, speed and stamina.'
Trisha turned to face her, 'Really? So, I'll be super strong ?'
'Not only that, but you will have super healing abilities and will be super attractive.'
Trisha looked at Dr Young grinning broadly, 'Cool, I can't wait for you to inject me. When can you start?'
'We can start now if you like, Trisha.' Dr Young announced, standing and offering Trisha her hand.
Trisha, not thinking about anything else, grabbed her hand and was pulled up from the bed. Briskly, Dr Young led her out of her room and into her lab. Inside, there were thousands of test tubes, organs from different species of animals, various types of plants and in the middle of the room was a bed. As she walked in Trisha looked at the specimens in amazement.
'Wow, so you are a real scientist, after all.'
Dr Young smiled at her as she sat on a desk, 'Trisha. science has always been my life,' she said as she bent over the desk and rummaged in the drawer.
'Found it,' she said as she stood up.
In her left hand, she held a glass vial containing an odd looking green liquid, Trisha watched as she began filling a syringe.
'Is that the serum?' Trisha asked.
'It is, my dear,' Dr Young said gently as she pulled her mask up. She looked at Trisha and pointed to a chair in the far corner of the lab.
'Would you mind, stripping off to your underwear and sitting down please?'
Trisha nodded as she undressed. Dr Young waited patiently as she sat in the chair.
'Keep still for me please Trisha, as this might hurt a bit.'
Trisha looked away and began grinding her teeth as Dr Young injected her in her arm, emptying the syringe. As she withdrew it, Trisha could feel a burning sensation in her entire body. Looking at her arms, she noticed that her skin was starting to change colour. It wasn't just her arms that were changing colour but the rest of her body. For an instant, she felt as if the whole of her body was on fire as it started to stretch and warp. Dr Young watched with an evil smirk on her face. Once her transformation was complete, Trisha found herself on the floor, the chair that she had been sitting on broken beside her. She had grown much taller since being injected with the serum, and her hair was now longer and thicker than it had been. Her chest and arms were ribbed with muscles and her skin was now light green. As she was getting up, Dr Young offered Trisha her hand.
'Well, how do you feel?' she asked impatiently.
Trisha pressed her hands against her forehead. 'I feel like I've got a massive headache from hell, Doctor, but apart from that, I'm fine.'
'Is that all?' Dr Young snapped.
'Well, for some reason,' Trisha said quietly, 'It looks like my skin has changed colour, but that can't be right, can it?'
Dr Young yanked the mask from her face and smiled at her, Trisha looked at her bewildered.
'What's so funny, Doctor?'
'You really are simple, aren't you, Trisha?' She said mockingly as she walked over to her desk.
On the side there was a small hand mirror, she picked it up and handed it to Trisha who began to look at herself. She let out a scream and dropped the mirror, which shattered into a thousand pieces as it hit the floor.
'What have you done to me?' She shrieked as she stood up and began to run towards the doctor with her hands outstretched trying to grab her throat. Dr Young remained calm as she stood by her desk.
'I thought you wanted to become part of my super soldier squad.' She said as Trisha's hands gripped her neck.
'I did,' she said as she began to tighten her hold, 'But I didn't want to end up looking like a freak,'
'Is this how you see yourself ,Trisha, a freak?'
Trisha loosened her grip, 'What is that supposed to mean?' She spat.
Dr Young smiled at her, trying placate her, 'I see that you've been given a gift, Trisha, a gift that can be used for the greater good.'
Trisha glared at her, 'Well, whatever this gift is I don't want it. Make me normal again. Now!'
'I can't, not yet anyway.'
Trisha tightened her grip again, 'Why not, are you afraid that you might lose a potential super weapon?'
Dr Young gasped, 'Let me go and I'll tell you.'
Loosening her grip, Trisha let her drop to the floor. Picking herself up, Dr Young walked to her desk, opened a drawer and pulled a photo out. She handed it to Trisha.
'Are you aware of a young woman by the name of Stacey Roberts?' She asked.
Trisha eyed her slowly, 'I don't know anyone by that name, Doctor. What does she have to do with me?'
'Everything, Trisha. You see, Stacey was once a test subject but she escaped. That's her in this photograph. I need your help to track her and her boyfriend down.'
Trisha studied the picture, 'And what do I get for helping you?' She demanded.
'I'll provide you with a serum that will turn you back into a human again.' she put her hand out for Trisha to shake, 'Will you help me, Trisha? Do we have a deal?'
Trisha looked at her, 'I guess I don't have much choice, do I?'
She reached for the doctor's hand and began shaking it.
'By the way, Doctor. Don't call me Trisha anymore, call me Greena.'
'Very well, Greena.' she said as she began laughing to herself.
It was early afternoon as Stacey sat on the brown, leather sofa in the penthouse drawing room. Closing her eyes to relax, she wore a black top with a short, denim skirt, her long, blonde hair in a ponytail. Just when she had settled, she heard footsteps coming towards her. Stopping near the sofa, she felt a hand softly touching her. Opening her eyes sluggishly, she saw Ben smiling at her.
'You took your time, Ben,' she said as he perched himself next to her.
'Sorry, hun,' he said, as he began to gently rub her back, 'Was I gone long?' He asked, moving closer to her.
Stacey laid her head against his chest, 'You took your time, where were you?'
Beaming, he pulled a small, blue velvet box from his jacket pocket, holding it out to show Stacey.
'What is it?'.
'Why don't you open it?' Stacey took it from him, surprised at what she found.
Inside the box was a white gold ring with a large cut diamond in the centre. Stacey took it out and held it up, ecstatic. 'It's beautiful Ben, it must have cost a fortune.'
Ben grabbed her green hands and looked into her eyes. 'It doesn't matter, you're worth every penny, Stacey,'
Stacey admired the ring, 'Babe, are you sure that you can afford it?'
'Stacey,I want you to know that I care about you and I love you. Money will never be an issue as I have more than enough.'
Pulling him towards her, Stacey started kissing his chest. Ben fell back in the chair as he closed his eyes. He felt her warm, smooth green lips against his skin as she rested her head on top of his chest. Ben opened his eyes and looked at her. 'I love you, Ben Fox, more than anything else in this world.'
Ben smiled at her and gently kissed the top of her head, 'I love you too, Stacey, more than ever.'
Stacey grabbed hold of Ben's face and started kissing him fervently, and started to unbutton his shirt, exposing his tight abs. For a moment, she stopped and looked admiringly at his fit body. Sitting back, she slowly took off her black top exposing the sexy blue bra she was wearing. Without taking his eyes off her, Ben slowly took off his trousers revealing a pair of white boxer shorts.
'Sexy,' she said as she started to laugh, slowly undoing her skirt and letting it drop to the floor.
Ben yielded to her as she lay herself on top of him, feeling her warm, smooth naked green skin next to his. As they were about to kiss, he stopped, raising his head. Stacey looked at him confused. 'What's wrong, babe?'
'Stacey, I sense someone is in the room with us.'
'That's crazy,' she snapped, 'You know as well as I do that Lightspeed is out with the chef in the dining area and he doesn't like coming in here.'
Before she could say anything else, there was a wisp of blue smoke coming into the room and settling near the sofa. Getting up, they saw the smoke forming into a woman. It was Mist, and from the look on her face Ben could tell that she was worried about something.
'Ben, I need to talk to you, it's important,'
Stacey yelled, 'Mist, Ben and I are in the middle of something private, can't this wait?'
Mist glared at. Ben quickly intervened, 'What's this about, Mist?'
Sitting down on the sofa beside Stacey, Mist began, 'Yesterday, we had a new member join us at Haven, Ben, someone called Trisha Morgan.'
'Yes, we get new members joining us all the time, what's so important about this one?'
Mist's face dropped and Ben could tell that she was worried about something.
'Ben,' she said quietly, 'This girl looks awfully like her.'
Ben looked at her and didn't say anything,
'You mean another me?' Stacey sharply interrupted.
Mist looked at her and gave her a nod, 'Yes. She has green skin, dark green eyes, lips, and nails, but there is something different about this woman.'
Ben again looked at Mist, 'What do you mean, different, Mist?'
Mist looked at him, her expression remained the same, 'She has long, red hair and looks stronger even than Stacey.'
'Do you think that it's the military again planning another attack, Ben?' Stacey asked.
'I don't know, but this gives me an idea, where is this woman now?'
Mist stood up and went over to him, 'She's in the basement in a cell. I ordered Powerhouse to keep her there until you returned.'
Ben turned towards the sofa and raised his hands, his shirt and trousers levitating and falling into his hands.
'Good. Go back to Haven and await my return. I will meet this other girl and read her mind.'
Mist nodded, and in a flash she disappeared. He turned back to the sofa towards Stacey who was still sitting there.
'Stay here, Stacey,' he ordered.
'Why do I have to stay here? Can't I come with you?'
'It's too dangerous now, especially if this new girl is stronger that you.'
Stacey looked daggers at him, 'I took Jennifer down, didn't I?''
'Stacey, she was acting out of anger and rage. You beat her only because of one thing. The serum that they used on her was only a test sample, nothing more.'
Stacey's mouth dropped open, 'You mean she was only being used as a dummy?'
Ben nodded in agreement. Standing, she moved towards him, throwing her arms around him. 'I still want to go with you, please let me.'
He looked into her dark green eyes and smiled.
'Stacey,' he said gently, 'You can come, but please don't follow me to the basement. I want to deal with this woman myself.'
Stacey nodded in agreement and dragged him back onto the sofa.
It was getting late at night as Stacey and Ben made their way back to Florida, he had wanted to leave Stacey at his New York penthouse for her own safety, but this nearly caused Stacey to break down as she loved him and didn't want him to leave her behind. They took a private jet back home as it was the quickest mode of transport. Ben sat in a seat next to the window with Stacey next to him, wearing a black leather bra and a pair of tight, leather shorts and high heeled ankle boots. Stacey looked at him as they sat down, grabbing his hand. Ben could tell that she was worried.
'Babe. What do you think we will find out from this woman when you read her mind?'
'I don't really know. Maybe I'll discover who she is working for or what she wants. Who knows?'
'I know one thing, Ben.'
'What's that?'
'I love you and I always will love you forever,'
She gave him a kiss on his cheek and sat back in her seat closing her eyes. Ben did the same and took Stacey's hand. It was early morning as the plane landed and he was the first to wake up. Sitting up, he turned to Stacey who was still asleep,
'Stacey.' Ben said as he gently nudged her, 'Stacey, it's time to get up, the plane's landed.'
Stacey's eyes flickered open and stared straight into his. 'What time is it, babe, and where are we?'
'It's one o'clock in the morning, babe. and we are in Florida.'
Stacey looked at him in surprise, 'What, we arrived here quickly, didn't we? Are we getting a lift to Haven from here?'
'Powerhouse is picking us up from terminal one.'
Stacey didn't say anything but held out her hand to Ben who grabbed it and they made their way off the plane and onto the runway. As they made their way down the plane's steps Ben let go of Stacey's hand.
'Are you okay, babe?'
He started rubbing his head as if it were hurting him.
'I just had a premonition, a vision into the future,' he said as he took her hand again.
'What did you see?'
Ben stared at her, and from the look he gave her Stacey could tell that he was worried, 'I saw us standing over the bodies of dead mutants and humans. There was smoke and fire around us as if we were standing near the edge of a battlefield.'
Stacey's mouth dropped as she heard this, 'You mean like a war don't you, darling?'
Ben nodded, 'A war between humans and the beasts they created. I saw more than that in my vision but I'll tell you about it when we get home,' he said as they entered the main building.
As they passed through the main door, Ben could feel Powerhouse's presence. As they entered an open hallway, waiting for them at the end was Powerhouse, wearing a long, black leather coat, a pair of black, fingerless gloves and black sunglasses. When he saw them, he made his way to them. Ben could tell just by looking at the big man's face that he wasn't happy.
'Welcome home, boss.' he said, extending his hand to Ben, he turned towards Stacey, 'And to you, Miss Roberts, I trust that your trip was enjoyable?'
Ben looked at him and gave him a faint smile, 'It was, thank you, Powerhouse,'
'Are you ready to go back to Haven, boss?'
Ben put his hand on o
ne of the big man's shoulders and smiled, 'Yes, we are. Lead the way please.'
Powerhouse turned and walked slowly towards the door with Ben and Stacey following closely behind.