The Body Swap (completed)

CHP24

Hacker along with the others was busy trying to figure out how to operate the machine. They've tried everything but nothing was working.

"Come on Hacker, make it work already."Gunman stated, as he watched him work. Steel was by his side , absolutely doing nothing.

Hacker gave him a look."Hey, the dude's a scientist okay? I'm just a guy . A regular guy. This crap is way out of my league."

"Oh come on. You must have the slightest idea."Sonya groaned.

Hacker was inspecting the machine from every angle. He noticed a wire that was not connected to anything. Without really thinking, he grabbed his laptop and the end of the wire. "I wonder...."

Ethan stood besides Luke and Alex, watching Hacker trying to figure out the damn thing. His phone rang. The moment he saw the caller I.D. , he knew something was up.

"Nat what made you call?"He casually said.

"The fact that we blew up a truck and made a big mess downtown!" She was driving as fast as she can. There were police cars chasing them.

"Where are you now? What happened?"

"Some fuckers visited us back home.Wait I need to lose these suckers. I'm glad to inform you Vanessa and Nick is still intact with me. Need to go."The call ended.

"Something wrong?"Sonya asked.

"Nat, Nick and Vi are down on a police chase. They blew up some assholes."

************

"What you are seeing here is live footage of police chasing unknown suspects of the explosion that happened just now. Media says that all these events that recently happened roots to the vigilante group who calls themselves Silent Death that brought 'justice' to this city for a year and a ....."

Daniel shut off the tv and put his jacket over his shoulder. Despite the turn of events , he still managed to keep his composure.

He looked over his shoulder. His companions looked at him confused as they remained seated. "Dusty. Liam. You two are coming with me. We need to investigate and identify who the corpses are."

Upon arrival to the said place, Daniel and the two others got off the car and  stood in shock before the house. It was totally wrecked. The three of them crossed the police tape and went in for a closer look.

CSI Tucker Harnlo went up to them and gave them  gloves. Liam and Dusty shook their heads and didn't take the gloves.

"Don't worry. I won't be touching any fuckshit in here." Liam stated

"So what do we got here Tucker?"

"We were hoping you'd arrive to see this crap before we wrapped them up in body bags  , we got six corpses. All male. Fingerprints indicate that Nat Hayes, the sister of Ethan Hayes had killed them along with Vanessa Slein."

Daniel was caught by surprise." Did you say Vanessa Slein? Are you positive that she was involved in the killing of these men?"

"Absolutely. Take a look at this man's corpse."Tucker motioned towards a corpse of a man at the far end of the room. It's evident that the cause of his death was getting stabbed in the throat.

"We uhh....we retrieved a paint brush stuck in his throat. It's positive that the prints on the brush is Vanessa Carlton's. It was her self-defense."

Dusty's face curled up into disgust. "Jesus Christ. This man is like my wife
on her period."

Daniel bent down to examine the corpse closer. The man's body was full of tattoos but something about the one on his wrist is distinct. It was a triangle divided into three. It's background was also a triangle but it opposed the main triangle and was upside down. He held his hand up and inspected the symbol. He was sure he's seen it somewhere. Just couldn't figure out where.

Daniel brought out his phone and took a picture of it.

"Can I see the others?"

"Go ahead."

Liam was confused. "Chief what exactly are you hoping to find?"

"The symbol...." he said as he checked another corpse's wrist. Bingo.He was right. There was also a symbol tattooed on his wrist. He checked one last corpse and still the symbol was present.

He was pretty sure that the body they found at J.Lo had also the tattoo.

Satisfied by what he saw, Daniel stood on his full height and removed the gloves that Tucker gave him. He threw it to Liam."Dusty. Liam. Your job is to figure out what that symbol is and inform me about it."

Tucker had an unreadable expression glued to his face." Weird though isn't it? They never killed in the past but simply knock them off. But now...now its a whole different story"

Dusty looked at him."Times changed. Next thing you know they have become hired assasins to kill the president."

Daniel immediately tried to called Vanessa. He was goddamn worried about her. Of her whereabouts. Of her condition. The phone kept ringing but there was no answer. With a sigh, he kept his phone back in his pocket and walked out of the house.

********

Nat, Vanessa and Nick had arrived to where Ethan and the others were. They quickly got out of the car and entered the house.

"How the hell did you get that in here?"Nat asked once saw the machine. It couldn't possibly fit through the door. She dropped the gun on the table and at the same time grabbed the bottle of water.

"Backdoor?"Hacker shrugged.

"I was beginning to worry about you guys. Good that nothing happened to you." Ethan said, looking at them with a concerned look.

Nat laughed."You know me. I always find myself crawling back."

Alex's heart dropped once she saw Vanessa. "Mom what happened to you?" She asked worriedly.

Vanessa was confused at first, it was only a few moments later when she got it. "Oh don't worry mi amore. It's not mine."She said as she tried to wipe the dried blood on her face. "I'm glad you are acting you again."She added.

"Nick? You alright bud?"Luke asked Nick who looked like he was about to puke.

"I'm alright. Just need to..."He ran outside where he proceeded to vomit. Luke followed him and did circular motions on his back.

Nick stopped. There was nothing left in him to throw back out."God, that driving just made it snap for me."

"Well, I am glad you're safe."

"I am aren't I?"

Both of them returned back in. Nat handed Nick the bottle of water she was drinking from just now but he refused.

She put down the bottle and faced the others "They are not safe wherever they go."

"Thanks for the additional information Captain Obvious."Sonya joked.

Nat ignored her joke and turned to Ethan."I think it's better if they all stay here. Under your supervision."

"But there is school tomorrow!"Alex disrupted.

"School can wait Alexandra. It's your lives that are at stake here." Nat had this aura around her at the moment that made Alex be afraid of her. She looked over behind her. "Oh? Who's your cute friend here?"

Nick stepped out and answered for her. "He's my brother , Luke."

Alex couldn't miss school. Sean and her ditched school  a bunch of times that the principal gave a punishment if ever they do anything crappy. If she became tardy or better yet absent without any reasonable excuses, she'd be having school services while the others enjoy their summer break.

Plus Sean must be worried sick about her. She needed to make it up to him. If she's lucky enough maybe Luke and her won't switch tomorrow.

" Mom, I really can't miss school. I'd die if I did.I'll rot while the others will have their freedom. Fricking school services mom! Have mercy on my soul."

"Wow I've never seen a kid like school this much."Gunman whispered to Steel who nodded in agreement.