The Next Evolution Ch 13

Back at Megan's apartment, Drew had finished up his work shift and made it over to check on the fish tank and Zeus's food bowl.
Zeus had practically charged the door as soon as he came in and hit the lights.  
"Well!  Sorry about the wait, your majesty," Drew said as he found a can of salmon pate and prepared it in the cat’s dinner dish.  While the cat was distracted, he fed the fish and made sure they were well taken care of.
Zeus was a fast eater, however, and soon he was climbing on the couch watching Drew.
“Aren’t you quick,” Drew said as he rubbed the cat’s head.  “I’d love to keep you company, but I think I’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
Drew gave the cat one final pet before heading into the bathroom to use the facilities and wash his hands.  However, he hesitated before leaving, eventually noticing that the shower curtain had been removed.  A moment later, a glint of purple light caught his eye.
Along the floor adjacent to the tub, the ray of light seeping through the blinds and also from the scone lights along the wall had caught the reflection of a small purple disc, shaped much like a guitar pick but not made of plastic, instead seeming to belong to a fish, but not one from the fish tank in the other room - it was far too big..
“Huh... what is that?” Drew picked up the enigma.  As he looked it over, no answers to its creation or origin came to mind.  “Some kind of sequin?  But why would Megan wear a dress in the bath?”
Slipping the mystery object into his pocket, he gave Zeus one final pet and made his way home.

* * *

Keith had been driving his Suburban in circles to lose anyone who might've been chasing him, even though they seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere.
"Um, Keith?  There's nobody following us anymore," Emina said.
"Are you sure?"  He gazed into his rearview mirror and swallowed his spit.  "There's gotta be..."
"No, unless you're planning on someone following us, I think we're all good.  You did it!"
"Yeah," he chuckled.  "Yeah, I did it... wow.  I never would've guessed that I could actually do something for someone from the ocean... fantastic!"
Emina smiled.  "Thank you very much.  I still have someone back at the lab, though... I wonder if he's safe."
"There's... huh?"
"Latrell took someone else too, a man.  His name is Greg... he's engaged to my sister."
"Your sister, another mermaid?" Keith asked.  "And this man...?"
"No, he's a regular human."  Emina looked towards the window.  "I hope he's okay."
Keith paused as the car blinked with an audio notification.  A green gas pump logo appeared on the dash.  "Low fuel..."  He turned to Emina.  "You want to go back, don't you?"
"I think we should.  I thank you for getting me out of there, but even though Greg told me not to worry..."
"You're worrying, I understand."  He put the truck into drive.  "I guess I didn't plan on quitting my job and fleeing security men today... but don't worry.  We'll find your buddy."
"But, Keith... your job..."
"Is just a job, Emina.  And it's a dead end job at that," he replied.  "I'll find us a gas station and we'll go from there."

The nearest gas station to either of them that was open sold gas for 4.35 a gallon, but apparently, that's all there was.
Tony stood by the pump as Michelle watched the numbers rise.
"I think it's funny that you're paying," Tony said.
"Oh?" Michelle smirked.  "Think it's funny that I have to pay for this?"
"Yeah, a little."
"I haven't paid for gas out of my own pocket in almost four years.  The only time was when I needed to borrow a truck for awhile, and I filled the tank up afterwards," Michelle explained.  "But as I'm the only one of us who has an expense account with the lab..."
"Who's truck?"
"Greg's dad.  It's a diesel too... cost me about $80 to fill it.  But, I needed it to move something, and it worked out good."
"Think we'll find Greg or Emina if we go back?" Megan asked as she leaned out the window.
Around that time a black and red Suburban pulled into the station.  The driver jumped out and tossed a Carl's Junior bag into the trash before working the gas pump.
"Hey, that's the Suburban I saw earlier," Tony whispered to Michelle.
"You're sure?" she asked.
"Positive."
Michelle turned to Megan.  "Hey, come with me."
"Huh?"
"Hurry up."  Michelle whispered to Tony.  "Go back to that park where we were earlier, I'm going to follow that truck."
Tony nodded.  "I'll hold onto your credit card."
"Actually, I already worked it out with the operator inside.  I don't have my credit card on me.  Filled out the paperwork and everything," Michelle said as she started for the back side of the station.
"Oh.  You're good."
Megan jumped out and followed.
Shelly leaned out the window.  "So that's why she took so long inside."
"What else could she have been doing?  Buying coffee?" Tony asked.
"I thought she went to the bathroom."
"Oh."

Megan came around the quieter back side of the station to see Michelle on all fours, rapidly doing pushups.  "Are we doing something... seedy?"
"That depends on your interpretation of seedy," Michelle replied.  She was beginning to sweat in the desert heat.  "We're going to follow the Suburban."
"Oh, is that all," Megan marveled.  "On foot?"
Michelle smiled as her hands turned into tires.  "Hardly."
"I'm sorry, I keep forgetting... even though I'm not sure why," Megan replied.
"Because," Michelle said as her feet turned into tires and her hips started to stretch, "Because I'm just so darn human it's ridiculous."
“Yeah,” Megan agreed as Michelle’s stomach and torso began to widen and form into a cabin with seats.  “That’s it.”

A moment later, Tony cleaned off the windshield of the van and watched as Summer drove around to the corner of the lot.  The Suburban had yet to fill, but there was no need for it to drive away as one of its passengers was already running towards the convertible.
“Hey...” Shelly said as she climbed out of the van.  Tony looked too, and soon Shelly was yelling.
“Emina!”
“Hey!”  Emina turned and ran up to Shelly, and both sisters embraced, right there in the middle of the gas station.  It was like they hadn’t seen each other in years.  
Tony went over as well, and Megan climbed out and joined them as well.
Summer would’ve moved, but there were other people at the station, staff and customers, and she had to play the part of the ordinary car.
“You’re all right!  How did you ever get out?” Shelly asked.
“This kind gentleman,” Emina said.
A moment later, he had joined them.  Keith, tall and lanky, joined the group.  “Emina?  Are these your friends?”
“Yes...” Emina turned to the group.  “My sister, Shelly... and her friends Tony, and Megan.”
“Thank you for finding her,” Tony said.
“Yes, how did you get out?” Megan asked.
“Actually...” Keith began.
“It’s a long story.  Let’s go somewhere a little more private to discuss that...” Emina turned to Summer.  “Should we follow you guys?”
“Is your truck gassed up?” Tony asked.
Keith nodded.  “It’s an old bucket, but it’s reliable.  And a guzzler...”
“It’s a chariot, as far as I’m concerned!” Shelly exclaimed.
Keith shrugged.  “You’re kind.”
For the first time, Megan noticed that when Shelly jumped, the light of the sun caught the ring on her finger.  She had been wearing Greg’s engagement band.  She must’ve been wearing it the entire time.  How long a time, Megan didn’t know.  
“Well, come on, let’s go.  I know a place,” Megan said, hoping to break up the group.
“Right.  Lead the way,” Keith replied.

The caravan of cars headed back to the quiet park south of there, and everyone gathered around the convertible to discuss the particulars of Emina’s escape.
“You could’ve drowned?” Megan turned to Shelly.  “Is that even possible?”
“Not really.  But electrocution is certainly serious,” Shelly replied.
Emina nodded.  “Drowning was not on my mind, I assure you.  Those sparks were real!”
“And you found her?” Tony asked Keith.
Keith nodded.  “If it wasn’t for the power surge, we might not have detected the flood.  But the best part came when we made a break for it.”
“Yes, and I still owe you for that,” Emina said.  “I thought for sure you’d turn me in.”
“Never a doubt, Emina.  You’re too precious for that.”  Keith turned to Tony, perhaps wrongly assuming that he was the leader of the operation.  “What do you know about your other friend in there, then?  Gregory?”
“Only what Emina’s told us,” Tony replied.
Emina nodded.  “When I left him, he was handcuffed to the wall in lab Omega.”
Somewhere, a soft chuckling voice was heard.
“What was that?” Keith asked.
“I... erm, cleared my throat,” Megan lied.
“Did you say a few other cars left the lab, Tony?” Shelly asked.
“A cargo truck and an equipment van, but not much else.”
Shelly crossed her arms and paced around the parking lot.  “Hmm... I should’ve followed them further.  Then we might’ve seen where they transferred everyone to.”
“They brought us to the lab in a van, I’m sure of that,” Emina said.  “If it was a truck, the ride would’ve been a lot rougher.”
“But what was Latrell driving?” Megan asked.  “Would he be willing to keep his hostage separate from anyone else, especially after losing his live mermaid?”
Tony nodded.  “No, of course not.  He was driving the equipment van.”
“Did you remember any other details about it?  Company logos, anything?” Keith asked.
Tony shook his head.  “No.”
“Well...” Shelly’s pacing had brought her around Summer’s front fender, and she was blinking her headlights.  “Maybe we can...”
Summer made a soft ringing sound with her voice.
“There it is again... someone’s cellphone going off?” Keith asked.
Shelly got the hint.  “Did you say there was someone else with you, Keith?  Can you call them to find out if anyone’s still in Lab Omega?”
“Huh?  Oh, yeah...” He pulled out his own cell phone, as he was the only one of the group who had been carrying one.  “Right.”

Inside the lab, Harry and Chris had been working with security staff.  Their pleas about the existence of the mermaid were ignored, if not laughed at.
Harry patted Chris’s shoulder.  “Maybe that was just a silly rumor... wouldn’t be the first time it came around in this place.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”  Chris shook Harry’s hand.  “Guess it’s time to get back to work.”
Harry’s cellphone began to ring.  “Talk to you later.”  He turned and answered it.  “Hello?”
“Listen, Harry, can we talk?  Is there anyone around you?  Say it’s nice to hear from you if you can.”
“It’s nice to hear from you if you can... what?”
“You idiot!” Keith snapped.  “Are you alone?”
Harry checked to see that Chris had left the security office and was already walking back to the main complex.  The security officials were minding their own business and not paying him any attention, but he still made his way into the security parking area before continuing.  “I am now.”
“Listen, I need you to head towards Omega lab and see if anything is running inside.  You should have janitorial clearance to enter... you won’t have access to the computer system, but I need to know if anyone is inside the lab.  Can you do that and then call me back?”
“Am I looking for the mermaid?  I thought she got away... hey, she’s with you, right?  Or is it just some girl?”
“She’s not a mermaid, Harry, and she never was.  Don’t believe those rumors for a moment.”
Harry nodded.  “Okay.  So I’m looking for... a merman?”
“You’re looking to see if anyone is being held prisoner in there.  And ask around - ask if Dr. Latrell moved a new assistant or anything.  And hurry, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll call you in about ten minutes.”
“Sounds good.  Hurry.”

* * *

I had finally found a chance to open my eyes.  Once again, I seemed to be coming out of a deep haze.  If they sold those tranquilizers in my store, we’d be charging top dollar for them, that’s for sure.
The sunlight was a bright blaze, and though it did little to burn the fog from my vision - that would clear eventually, I learned - I did discover that I was no longer in the dome of the lab, and that I was above ground.  
Brilliant deduction, Claxion.
“Are you with us, Mr. Claxion?”
Latrell’s voice came through like a machine gun.  Dang that tranquilizer was stiff.
“Well?”
“You’ll understand if I don’t get up.”  I might’ve been laying flat in the back of the equipment van where the glass cocoon had been.  My watch was still on my wrist, but it was now behind my back - I still could feel bonds, but they weren't made of metal - and I couldn’t see the time.  “What time is it?”
“About quarter of five.  I hope that pearl of yours can make you breathe underwater, because you and I are going for a swim, and I only brought one dive suit,” Latrell said.
“Just you and I?” I asked.  “You lugged me in here by yourself?”
“And Slims here... Legs is still twitching from your little electric show earlier, and he didn’t get cleared from the infirmary.”
I chuckled briefly.  “Sucks to be him.”
“Sucks to be you, if you pardon me,” Latrell paused.  “Because if you don’t locate your finned friend by midnight, your time will be up.”
“That’s the thing about my watch, it keeps starting new days.  Every twenty four hours, time resets and it’s a new day.”
“Then I shall break the watch too!” Latrell growled.  “And tear your calendar from the wall!  Your time shall end... and it will rot in eternity!”
The van was starting to swerve.  Was he pounding the steering wheel too?  “Have you ever taken anger management classes?  You manage it very well.”
“Shut it!”

* * *

Shelly was swinging on the playset, Emina was playing tag with Megan, Summer was contemplating in the parking lot and Keith and Tony were shooting the breeze as they awaited Harry’s phone call.  Sam was sleeping in the van with the windows open.  Finally, several minutes past the ten they had hoped for, Keith’s cell rang.
"Harry?" Keith answered.
"I found the technicians from Omega Lab on their way out of the building - everyone was glad to be sent home after the security lockouts."
"And?"
"Nothing.  There were no active specimens, other than the long term microbiological coral serums that the doctor has been testing.  Nobody knew anything about any extra specimens or any new faces."
"Hmm..." Keith paced as he switched hands with the phone.  "Are you able to get inside?"
"I spoke with another team of janitors who had came through.  Aside from a burst pipe, there was nothing out of the ordinary," Harry paused.  "Want me to go through again?  Or are you chasing something that we can't catch?"
"That's the ultimate question..." Keith trailed off.  
"If it's any news, there was an active computer program on that was left undisturbed.  Some tracking system..."
"Tracking system...?"
Emina heard Keith and rushed over.  "Hey, did you say a tracking program?  Where did it lead to?"
"The program, Harry, where did it lead to?"
"I don't remember... I haven't officially clocked out yet... should I go look?"
"Yes!  Hurry... a man's life may be at stake."
"Okay.  I'll send it back to you by text."
"Good.  Hurry."  Keith hung up and looked at Emina, who was eying him carefully.  "Do you know anything about a tracking program?"
“They had stuck me with a GPS tracking chip... I stuck it in a truck bound for Morro Bay.”
“You’re sure it left?” Keith asked.
“What are you two talking about?” Tony asked.
“They put a chip on me... if they think I’m in Morro Bay...” Emina began.
Tony jumped into the van’s driver’s seat, shaking up Sam.  
“Wha?” Sam looked around.  “What’s going on?”
“We’re going to Morro Bay... which way do we go?”
“West!” Sam shook her head and blinked her eyes.  “Why Morro Bay?”
“You’ll see.”  Tony honked the horn, waking up Summer as well.
“Think I can leave my truck here?  There’s no need for us to travel in so many cars.  Feel free to leave that convertible of hers too,” Keith said as Megan came over.
“Nope, I’ll drive with Emina,” Shelly said.  “You can ride with us if you like.”
“I’m riding with Emina too,” Megan said, though she almost wanted to say Summer.  “We’re riding in style.”
“Tony, shall we?” Sam asked from the back seat.
“Come on.” Tony motioned for Keith to ride.
He nodded.  “Let’s roll.”

* * *