Retort

"If you cant beat them join em right?"

Hope gives a grin. She wasn't saying what Gunner was doing was right, and she still thought he was chasing ghosts...but maybe this was better.

"I'd rather have you do this and me around to keep you in line, than to have you go alone and get your neck cut off."

Turning to leave again Hope shakes her head before stopping and looking over her shoulder for a moment, giving a small chuckle.

"I need to do something in my spare time as well while Scott is working. Might as well spend the time trying to help a friend out."

Giving another smile Hope makes her way back to the small table that has been set up so she could use the computer to continues just surfing online.

Only half listing Katie continues to try and considerate on keep Jeff still. But Katie does still hear pits and pieces till finally she looks up at Jason and Rick again. Giving a nod Katie understood. Though she and Jason had, had no choosing in how they were is still was not something that was normal, and as much as she loved there connection it was hard at times, and not many people were as strong at her and Jason.

"Thats probably best. In the wrong hands it could be a bad weapon."

Looking at her Dad again Katie's heart ached. Everything he was going through she would never wish is on another person.

"Thank you Rick, for trying and not giving up. J, thank you as well. It means alot to me your here."

Dangerous

Jeff's eyes close tightly and his fingers dig into the mattress as he writhes. He felt stretched between two strange worlds. Part of him wanted to fight and push away these people that were crowding him. And part of him wanted to relax and just let go. He wasn't sure which was right, or what was happening.

Finding Katie's hand in his own, he puts it in a vice grip. He had been on the verge of death, and now it was as if he were being ripped back into the world, brutally and painfully.

Jason stood close, making sure Katie could feel him there, though he was as confused as anybody. "Rick... what's happening?" he asks again.

Rick is still fumbling around, trying to figure out his own questions. "You know what this formula is... I think it's finally working."

"Yeah, but... will what's in him really destroy only what it's supposed to?"

"I hope so. And when this is over, I'm destroying this formula."

Jason gives Katie a sidelong glance. "With the help of Scott and Misty, Rick's produced a non-genetic formula that changes their systems like you and me." He purses his lips grimly. "Your dad has something in him that can destroy it completely... so we're giving it something to destroy. In the end... he should be back to normal. But... Rick's decided not to keep any documentation on the mutant formula. The destroyer, yes, so if anything happened to one of us, we wouldn't have to be on pills the rest of our life, but... he doesn't want anyone ending up like us."

"I don't even know how it would work," Rick admits. "I don't know what happens when two meet, like you and Jason... if it can be anybody, or if there's a more specific piece. But I don't want to find out. This stuff is too dangerous."


Gunner looks up quickly as Hope approaches. Quirking an eyebrow, he sits straighter and receives the paper. A junkyard? How had he missed that piece? He must've turned the wrong way at some point and never retraced his steps to the right place again. Hope must have stumbled on the right path of evidence. But...

He glances at her again. "For someone who blamed me for chasing ghosts... this is pretty interesting. Why did you want to help?" He grins a little. "Isn't that 'enabling' me?"