Mission Cure

CHAPTER TWELVE - M:FAC/3 - Adrian

ADRIAN

Dr. Moore was far too heavy for someone so short. Adrian was losing his breath as he carried the man up the stairs.

"How long until the tranquilizer wears off?" Clare was asking.

As though Adrian needed something else to worry about besides his back. Seriously, the doctor should have taken his own advice about eating healthy and exercising.

"The darts don't say anything on them," Clare continued. "Not instructions, not ingredients. That's weird."

It was a good half mile before they reached the Science Lab, plenty of time for Clare to lecture him on how they'd left all those darts downstairs and how they would have to go and collect them - eventually - when it was safe. Because it would be irresponsible to just leave them there, and it could be dangerous for anyone walking around downstairs without shoes.

"My shoes!" she recalled suddenly.

"Go and get them."

"I can't leave you alone."

"It is fine," Adrian assured her. "I like to be alone."

After some more discussion that took way too long, Clare decided to run and grab her shoes - but only after Adrian promised not to open the Science Lab without her. Of course he agreed. He didn't know what they would find in there. And Clare had proven to be a very capable backup.

Inside Medic, Adrian lowered Dr. Moore into a chair. His head lolled back. Adrian tried to make him as comfortable as possible then searched for something he could use to tie him to the chair. Clare was right, they didn't know how long the tranquilizer lasted. Dr. Moore could wake up any second.

The best he found was a lab coat and a pair of scissors. He cut the coat into a long strip and wrapped it several times around the doctor, securing him to the chair. By then, Clare rushed into the room.

"I'm here," she let him know. "You tied him to a chair?"

"Da." Adrian pondered her look of confusion.

"We need his wrist to trigger the sensor."

Adrian chewed the inside of his cheek. "I know that," he answered after a long time.

Clare nodded slowly. "Okay."

"I pick up the chair - like this," Adrian struggled to pick up the doctor while attached to the chair. It might have been easier to just untie the knots, but it was more important not to look like an idiot. Plus, untying the man would take longer.

Grunting, Adrian stood and walked over to the Science Lab doors. Tied behind the chair, the Doctor's hands were at the perfect height. They heard a beep, and the doors slid open to reveal what they assumed - another disaster.

Expensive equipment had toppled to the ground, the floor was covered in various liquids and broken glass, and every surface had a bloody handprint.

Adrian set Dr. Moore down and reloaded his dart gun. They had eight darts left - four for each of them. Clare mirrored his actions, taking her allotted darts and sliding them into place.

"Just in case," Adrian told her.

"You think there are more?"

"I think luck favors the prepared," he answered, trying to recall where he'd heard that particular phrase.

Clare took a step and paused.

Adrian glanced down at her feet. "Shoes."

She slipped them off again, using her foot to push them to the side.