Brad knew where he was right away. At the River, out of his body and within his mind, he was healthy and whole. The bubbling sound of the water and the cool evening breeze enveloped him. He expected Ken to be at his side, but when he opened his eyes he was by himself.
Frantically looking around, Brad went numb with fear when he saw Ken on the far bank, in the cove leading to the fort. Splashing into the water, he rushed forward but slammed into an invisible barrier. He knew he faced the will of the creature, now strong enough to orchestrate their separation and prevent him from reaching Ken.
No! He was on the wrong side!
He desperately started pounding his fists against it, yelling, “Ken, you idiot, get out of there! You don’t understand! It’s too strong! Kennnnnnnnn!”
He knew Ken didn’t stand a chance.
<><>
A horrific scream cut through the woods, sending a chill down Ken’s spine. It was his voice, and he knew it was the creature. In that place, it was on the edge of his awareness, and he sensed its need and desire to return home, to him.
Cupping his hands to his mouth, Ken yelled as loud as he could, “Alright, you bastard, come and find me!”
The creature, recognizing Ken’s voice and knowing he was near, screamed in rage and hunger. A loud crash followed by the sound of splintering wood told Ken it finally broke free of the prison Brad kept it trapped in.
Fuck, B, I wish you were beside me. I know together we could kick this thing’s ass.
Ken pulled a large log out of the bonfire, the end glowing bright orange, with flames licking along its length past the tip at least a foot high. Swinging it a few times to make sure it was sturdy, he moved to the water’s edge facing the woods and knelt down to wait, wanting to draw it into the clearing and away from the cover of the trees.
Crashing noises through the underbrush grew louder, and suddenly it emerged from the woods and stopped, knowing he was there. Their eyes met and Ken stared into his own green eyes, stunned by its appearance and the rage and insanity staring back at him.
Fuck, is that how I looked when they found me?
The creature’s muscles gleamed in the firelight, covered in slick, wet blood. Its arms and legs were broken, with splinters of bone penetrating through the skin at various points. Burns covered its body, and large patches of skin were missing, exposing muscles and tendons. Its face was swollen and bruised… but it had his eyes. As damaged as the creature appeared to be, it moved blindingly fast.
Even prepared, the creature surprised him as it lunged, moving across the cove from the edge of the woods with incredible speed. Ken dodged, barely avoiding a blood-covered fist. Spinning around, he swung the log with both arms as hard as he could, cracking it across the creature's back. The wood split from the strength of his blow, and the creature stumbled forward as sparks flew from the end that was still on fire. It let out another blood-curdling scream, but Ken wasn’t sure if it was from pain or annoyance.
It whirled around, and before Ken could react it was on him. He never saw the blow that sent him reeling through the air. Sand softened his landing, but it stunned him long enough for the creature to jump on him while he was on the ground recovering. He had never been struck so hard.
Fuck! Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea!
Rolling, he scrambled away as the creature swiped at him, ripping his shirt and scoring deep cuts across his back. Ken cried out in pain, arching his back as he twisted away, but the creature was on him again, not giving him any time to recover, relentless in its aggression and hatred. It straddled his waist, striking back to back blows across his face, stunning him. Ken’s head snapped back and forth, and he saw stars, unable to focus.
It paused briefly, watching Ken’s eyes glaze over. Reaching down, it grabbed the front of Ken’s t-shirt, ripping it off and throwing it aside. Their muscular bodies were clearly defined by the sharp shadows cast by the bonfire, one wet with sweat and the other blood.
The creature placed one hand high on Ken’s chest above his collarbone, splaying its bloody fingers out until they wrapped around the base of his neck, cutting off his oxygen supply. Looking at its other hand with a blissful smile, it slowly brought its palm down onto the center of Ken’s chest.
Ken’s eyes went wide, and his mouth flew open in a silent scream as pain ripped through his mind and body. Every muscle, vein, and cord stood out in reaction to the sudden and unexpected agony as the memories and experience of his torture started returning to him. His combat instincts took over, and in a gut reaction to the pain coupled with the adrenaline in his system, he struck the creature so hard it flew ten feet into the air, landing in the fire and sending a mass of sparks high into the night sky.
Ken knew if the creature touched him like that again, he was done for.
Shit that hurt!
<><>
Brad watched the fight, beating his fists against the invisible barrier. As strong as Ken was, Brad knew the creature was stronger. It wasn’t just driven by rage and insanity; it was rage and insanity. The only intelligence it had was the drive to return to Ken and devour his mind. It was a creature of thought and malice, given physical form in that constructed place within Brad’s mind, but its strength came from the pain and torture that destroyed Ken’s mind the first time.
At that moment, Brad was sure he and Ken were going to die, but damned if he was going to let Ken die alone! At least he could lessen Ken’s pain. With no thought as to what it would do to his body or his mind, Brad opened the place within him he had been desperately holding shut to protect Ken.
Pain hit him hard, and he fell to the ground clutching his head as Ken’s torment and suffering tore through his mind.
You son of a bitch, give me all you got! The more you give me, the less you have for him!
<><>
Ken became aware the moment Brad opened himself to the creature.
No, B! No! Fuck!
Ken knew Brad was trying to save him, but he also knew the creature was too strong, and now that it was free, they were both going to die. He didn’t understand how it could be so strong.
How had Brad kept it trapped?
The memory of his conversation with Brad came back to him: “What the fuck are you talkin’ about bro? You’re the strongest person I know! Oh my God, man, how can you say that? You have no idea, do you? For someone so smart, you can sure be a dumbass sometimes!”
The creature screamed again, sensing Brad’s interference. It spun, clotheslining Ken and knocking him down onto the sand, moving so fast it was unstoppable. Even Ken, as strong and fast as he was with all his combat training, skills, and genetic enhancements, was a little boy fighting a grown man and had no chance.
The creature dropped onto Ken again, plunging its hand into his chest. There was no blood, its hand simply disappeared into his body, and it sighed in pleasure as it fulfilled its purpose.
As Ken’s sanity slipped away, through the blinding fire of pain and agony, two unrelated thoughts came to his mind. The first was how much he loved Brad and wanted nothing more than to be in his arms when he died. The second was an epiphany about the Project, the doctor, and his work, the Vitruvian Man. The man in a circle and square by Leonardo da Vinci the doctor used as a symbol for the project. It was also referred to as the Proportions of Man; The body, mind, and spirit.
The pairing of Ken and Brad and the others became clear. Ken was the body, Brad was the mind, and their spirits, their souls, were one. How could science do that? There was more to the doc than they ever realized.
You clever, clever, man, doc.
Ken’s epiphany gave him the strength to face his end with grace, and he stopped fighting, welcoming the missing part of him back home.
Ken lay still, his breath shallow, the blank stare on his face reflecting the fact his mind was gone. The creature faded as the essence giving it form returned where it belonged.
Across the River Brad lay on the ground, barely conscious, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He wanted to let go and stop the pain. If he let go it would all stop, but something pulled at his mind, refusing to let him rest. A song… getting louder. It sounded familiar. It was beautiful… and powerful, and he knew as long as it continued, he couldn’t let go and be at peace or find Ken in Heaven.
<><><>
The tempo of the song was slow, and it was nearly five minutes before it came to a close. Ken and Brad were unconscious, breathing shallow, but Ken’s arms were still wrapped tightly around Brad. Bill knelt beside them, holding Ken’s wrist to feel his pulse, which was slow and sporadic.
In a subdued voice, he said, “Guys, this doesn’t look good. Maybe we should call the doc.”
The silence after the song was deafening. The music still resonated within them, and they knew something profound was happening. Each of them felt the icy calm that always accompanied a difficult mission.
Bill started when Ken’s arms fell to his sides, and his head rolled back as Brad’s body slumped further down his chest. Their faces relaxed in peaceful expressions, and they stopped breathing.
Bill lowered his head with a choked sob, cupping a hand on Ken’s shoulder. All their eyes were bright, and tears unabashedly fell down their faces
Most of them jumped, startled, when Lane’s voice cut through the silence, yelling, “Fuck this shit! This isn’t how it was supposed to go down! I know it! I can feel it! We’re missing something! There’s no fucking way they’re dead!”
Bryan’s deep, gravelly voice pushed through the sadness threatening to overwhelm them, saying, “Guys, we’re idiots. The words are telling us what to do. The lyrics said, ‘the hands of the many must join as one.’ Lane, start playing Little Buddy; I don’t think we have much time!”
Lane started the song again, forcing his hands to remain steady, but his face expressed the desperation they all felt. As soon as he began singing, the words fell into place in their minds. Kneeling around Ken and Brad, they formed a circle, gripping their hands tightly together.
The hands of the many must join as one
And together we'll cross the River
Bill was on one end of the circle touching Ken, and Darren was on the other touching Brad. Lane had to play, so their hands were on his shoulders. As the first chord rang out their eyes flashed white, and the music carried them back to the place in them that was waking up. Faintly, they heard the bubbling sounds of the River.
The eight men focused as one on helping Ken and Brad, willing them to breathe, and sending them strength to fight a battle none of them understood.
<><><>
Even the slightest movement was excruciating, but Brad knew he had something else to do before the music would let him go. It stirred something in him, and even through the pain it gave him a strange sense of well-being and belonging and something else he couldn’t quite figure out. The pain didn’t lessen, but the music helped him to punch through it.
Lane’s voice resonated in his mind, and along with it, the love and support of his brothers. Their presence was overpowering, wrapping around him and bolstering his soul. Whatever stirred inside him, his friends were somehow taking part in it, making it stronger, and they carried him across the River.
Opening his eyes, he was now with Ken on the beach.
His voice was barely a whisper, “Ken?”
How did I get here?
He felt no sense of movement, but he was now across the River, beside Ken.
Is this what it’s like to die?
Brad had just enough strength to crawl to Ken. He rolled over, resting his head on Ken’s chest, wanting the last thing he felt to be Ken’s warm body and heartbeat. Beneath his closed eyelids, as Brad lost consciousness, his eyes flashed white as the music and presence of his friends filled him.
<><>
Something was different. It took a moment, but Brad’s brain finally registered the pain was gone and he felt warm and safe. As his senses asserted themselves, he realized he was naked, with Ken’s warm arms wrapped around his stomach and chest, holding him as he rested against Ken’s torso. Ken was naked too and seemed to be asleep, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. Ken’s chin rested in its usual spot in the crook of Brad’s neck and shoulder, and his thighs were spread wide to make room for Brad to recline against him with his calves and feet wrapped around Brad’s lower body. Brad was acutely aware of Ken’s solid body and steady heartbeat against his back, and the warmth and softness of his manhood pressed against him.
His brain also registered that not only did he feel Ken, he felt him, not just his body but his presence. Along with his arms, Ken’s presence encapsulated Brad, inciting an intimate physical and emotional reaction.
Brad wondered where they were. He assumed they were dead and in some transitionary stage to wherever it was they went after. To Brad, it was enough like Heaven to be in Ken’s arms with their bodies touching, neither of them in pain but whole and healthy.
Yeah, I could spend eternity like this.
Brad put his hands over Ken’s, squeezing gently, and Ken’s arms tightened in response.
His chin lifted and sounding sleepy and relaxed, Ken’s deep voice whispered in his ear, “About time you woke up, fucker. I thought you were gonna sleep forever.”
Ken kissed Brad’s neck and rubbed their stubble covered cheeks together in the way that drove them both crazy. Moving one arm up, he cupped Brad’s chin, bringing his face around to press their lips together in a tender kiss. Smiling, Ken kissed him a few more times and then pulled back far enough so they could stare into each other’s eyes.
Brad not only saw Ken’s love for him, he felt it, and his face drew back in surprise.
Ken grinned at his reaction and said, “Yeah, I feel it too. I always knew you were one hot fucker on the outside, but the inside is a thousand times better.”
“Ken? What’s happening? Where are we?”
“You tell me, B. I’m pretty sure you’re the one who brought us here.”
“I’m not sure where here is. Lane’s song… I think it was a key of some kind. I felt the guys inside me, in me… they got me to your body, and I knew you were dying. All I wanted was to die with you, but the music held me back... and now we’re here.”
Ken eased his grip and stood up, pulling Brad to his feet. There seemed to be a floor, and they could see each other clearly, but everything around them was dark.
Brad looked around, his forehead furrowed in concentration, and said, “I remember this place. I had a dream, or thought it was a dream. I saw you on a table, tortured and broken. I couldn’t reach you at first. Some kind of barrier kept us apart.”
Ken’s eyes widened in surprise, and he said, “I remember that! I mean I didn’t, ‘til just now. I was at the end of my rope, and you told me ‘ta hang on, that you knew where I was and how ‘ta find me. It gave me enough hope ‘ta keep goin’.”
There was a short pause, and then Ken continued, “But ‘ya know B, I think by hangin’ on it fucked things up worse.”
Brad felt the truth of Ken’s statement, and his words cut like a knife into his heart. The hurt in Brad was palpable to Ken, and he felt like a jerk.
Brad spun around to face Ken and asked, “What was I supposed to do? Let you die?!”
“It was selfish, B, but you know I would’ve done the same thing. We can’t lie to each other about it. Not here, in this place.”
Brad paused as Ken’s statement sank in.
“What do you mean?”
“Because I can’t lie to myself. Believe me, B, I tried. I lie ‘ta myself all the time in little ways. Hell, everybody does. I think it’s part of bein’ human. Somethin’ about this place rejects that, or doesn’t permit it. I’m not sure which.”
“How did you figure that out?”
“Because while that creature was flayin’ my mind away a piece at a time, the pain was more than I could take and I wanted so badly ‘ta die and put an end to it all, I tried ‘ta blame you. I tried ‘ta blame you for everythin’ B. For makin’ me hang on beyond my strength, and creatin’ this impossible situation because you were too selfish, or too weak, ‘ta let me go.”
A cold sliver of fear crept down Brad’s spine at Ken’s words. It was overpowering, and his chest tightened to the point he could hardly breathe. He fell to his knees, his shoulders slumped, and tears filled his eyes. The harsh truth of Ken’s words cut him, not just the words but the truth behind them.
Ken sat beside him, pulling his knees up to his chest. He rested his chin on one of his forearms, and his other hand reached out to grip Brad’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, B, I know that hurt, and I know you’re mad at me. I’m not tryin’ ‘ta be a bastard. This place is harsh, but it’s also kinda’ beautiful.”
Ken had been awake in that place longer than Brad. He wasn’t sure how time moved where they were, or if it moved at all, but Ken seemed to have been there hours before Brad woke up. Ken’s senses were much more acute than a normal human, but in the place they were in, it was like his senses and perceptions were on steroids. Brad’s emotional pain was so tangible Ken could see it. When he looked deep and sifted through the emotions running through his best friend, he saw anger along with everything else.
“I know you’re pissed at me, B; I can see it.”
It took Brad a minute to get himself under control.
“So, tell me, B, what’re you mad about?”
“What am I mad about!?”
As soon as Brad allowed his anger to surface, it quickly boiled over. It had been building for over a month, needing an outlet, and everything that was happening, especially Ken’s words, pushed him over the edge.
He stood up suddenly and faced Ken, practically screaming, “You stupid shit! What am I mad about!? Because this is all your fault, that’s fucking why! You’re the one who had to switch jobs with Kevin that night. You’re the one who got lazy and let his guard down and got himself captured! Then you sit here and blame me?! God! You are so fucking conceited I can’t even begin to tell you how pissed that makes me! I love you more than anything you fuck-head, even my own life, and I was willing to sacrifice myself to save your sorry ass, and then you turn this around and say it’s my fault!”
Brad’s body was taut from anger, and he yelled so hard spit flew from his mouth. His face and upper body flushed, and veins started showing on his neck, and across his chest, shoulders, and arms.
Ken stared, taking in Brad’s beautiful, naked, muscular form, not only seeing Brad’s physical beauty but everything he loved about him.
Almost wistfully, Ken mumbled, “God B, you are one sexy fucker when you get fired up.”
Brad stopped abruptly, surprised by Ken’s comment, but his anger quickly returned, and he continued, “You always do that! When things get too hot for you, you always crack a joke and try to change the subject! You…”
Ken held up his hands in surrender and started to chuckle, “Damn Brad, chill out a minute.”
Putting his hands on his hips, Brad paused his tirade but continued to glare, breathing hard and sweating from the tension, anger, and other emotions coursing through him. He had a bad temper and usually kept it in check, rarely letting it lose, but when he did let it go, he always had a hard time putting a lid back on it.
“To think only a few minutes ago, I sat there in your arms thinking I could spend eternity with you?! What the fuck was I thinking?! I’m an idiot! I want to spend eternity with a total dick! How fucking idiotic is that?!”
Ken couldn’t hold it in anymore and started laughing while Brad glared at him.
“Oh man B, if you could see your face!”
Ken was about to cry from laughing so hard, but he finally got himself under control. Moving behind Brad, Ken put his hands on Brad’s shoulders, kneading them.
“I’m not laughin’ at you, B, I’m laughin’ at us. You know I love you more than anythin’ in the world man, even my own life. How couldn’t I, after what you did for me? After everythin’ we’ve been through together? You’re my life.”
Ken turned Brad around by his shoulders to face him. Ken’s warm hands, coupled with the emotional intensity soaking into him through the physical contact, affected him. He couldn’t help himself and became erect. Ken’s hands always affected him that way, but the emotions bleeding through his touch were impossible to resist.
Ken whispered in his ear, “Come here, B.”
Pulling Brad into the tight, full-bodied hug they both loved, Ken started a kiss. Their eyes flashed white, and they lost track of how long they stayed together. The changes in them that had been building over the last months, their new and more powerful connection, were more potent in the place they were in, and they lost themselves in the embrace, unaware of the passage of time.
At some point, Ken lowered them to the floor, their bodies still pressed together, arms and legs wrapped around each other as they held each other tight. The heightened emotional sensitivity caused the same reaction in Ken, and when he activated their physical bond, this time Brad’s empathic abilities blended too, and it sent them into a shared emotional orgasm so intense it took their breath away. It was extreme, unexpected, and more potent than anything they ever experienced. There was another unintended effect; all the pent-up emotions of the last month, the tensions and stress left them, expelled with their discharge. They continued grinding against one another, their movements slowing, leaving them content and peaceful until they were still, with Ken resting on top of his lover. They were sweaty, and Ken loved the feeling of Brad’s warm breath on his neck, and with the bond Brad felt it too, along with the emotion it incited in Ken.
Minutes went by, and eventually Ken lifted his head to stare into Brad’s eyes, and with a cocky grin he asked, “Now, are you sure you wouldn’t want to spend eternity with this dick?”
Seeing Ken’s handsome face, inches from his own, with the little kid grin he adored, Brad couldn’t help but smile.
Laughing, he hugged Ken tighter and replied, “You are such a fucking douche.”
After another short time of holding each other, Brad said, “I don’t know about eternity, but it looks like we might not have a choice unless we can figure out where we are and how to get out of here.”
Ken slid off Brad and onto his side, propping his head up on one hand. Brad did the same, so they faced one another. It was one of their favorite positions after sex, so they could continue to touch each other and talk about whatever came to mind. It was always an intimate emotional time to match the physical intimacy shared moments before.
They were both quiet as their hands roamed, tenderly touching and caressing each other.
Ken broke the silence with another grin, “Yeah, about that…”
Chuckling, Brad said, “You, shit. I knew you were holding out on me.”
“Well, B, I’m not sure, but I think I figured somethin’ out about us, and it might help get us outta here, or at least explain some things.”
“Well, I’m not going anywhere so you better start talking or I’m going to take matters into my own hands.”
Brad reached down and fondled Ken playfully when he said that.
“Have you ever wondered, B, how the doc knows so much? How he knows so much more than anyone else on the planet about genetics, and computers, and almost every other field of science out there?”
“I think we all have at one time or another.”
“Well, he said somethin’ today that didn’t make sense. When I told him what I planned ‘ta do, he said he couldn’t be with us tonight. When I questioned him, he said he wasn’t permitted to be with us or to say more than he did.”
Brad’s eyebrows rose in surprise, and he exclaimed, “Holy shit!”
“Yeah, as far as any of us know he doesn’t work for anyone, so there’s obviously more to him than meets the eye. I mean even more than we thought. That and a lot of other things clicked into place, and I had an epiphany as I was dyin’.
“Whoa big fella, don’t use words you don’t understand.”
Ken gave Brad a light punch to his chest as he laughed, retorting, “Shut the fuck up and listen, I’m trying to enlighten your sorry ass.
“So, as I was sayin’… you know the symbol the doc uses for the project, right? The Vitruvian Man by da Vinci? He’s also referred to it as the Proportions of Man, representin’ the three parts of man that make him whole; the body, mind, and spirit. I could be crazy, but I think the doc fashioned the project with da Vinci’s idea as the drivin’ concept. When he changed us, I think it was for some higher purpose, and he hasn’t gotten around to tellin’ us what that is yet. I think he somehow bound our souls together, knowin’ we’d love one another.”
“How could he have possibly done that?”
“I don’t know, I’m still thinkin’ this through, but it makes sense. I know I’m physically stronger than you, but you’re stronger than me in every other way. You’re smarter, more compassionate, and more emotionally mature than I am. Take that creature; as tough as I am that fucker kicked my ass like I was a baby, but you kept it trapped for weeks. You even created the place to trap it in.”
“I don’t like what you’re saying, Ken. Yes, you’re physically stronger than I am, but don’t make me out to be more than I am. You make me a better man. I want to be a better person because of you. You deserve as much credit for those characteristics in me as I do.”
“Okay, B, maybe that’s true, or maybe not. But don’t you see? I still think it’s all by design. We complement each other like two sides of a coin, and we’re bound together because we share our souls.”
“Alright. I’m not saying I agree with you, but I see where you’re going.”
“Well, for one thing, I don’t think we’re dead. I think you brought us here, wherever here is. I think time is movin’ slowly because all this is in our heads. It’s like we’re in a dream inside the dream world where the creature was. I think our bodies are dyin’ in the backyard.
“The problem is I’m not sure what’ll happen if we do get outta here. That creature shredded my mind, and you, you dumb shit, probably don’t have much of a noodle left either after you tried ‘ta help save me; again! I think what you and I are, here, are our souls. When our bodies finally stop breathin’, I’m not sure what’ll happen ‘ta us here. I think, though, that if we have any chance of gettin’ outta here, it lies with you, B.”
Brad chuckled at Ken’s comments and said, “Yeah, no pressure though.”
Ken stopped talking to give Brad time to think, process, and focus on what he said, and they were both quiet for a long while. Ken seemed calm, almost serene, having every confidence in his lover, as he continued intimately touching and caressing Brad the entire time in ways he knew Brad liked.
Ken gave him his space but could tell Brad was becoming frustrated, and after a while Brad got up and started pacing. After letting Brad pace for a while, Ken motioned for Brad to come back over to him.
“Hey B, come back over here.”
“We don’t have time to cuddle. I need to figure this shit out.”
“B, shut ‘yer trap and get your ass over here.”
Brad moved over and stood looking down at Ken, who sat up and spread his thighs.
Ken patted the space between his legs, saying, “Turn around and sit down.”
Brad sat down with a heavy sigh of impatience.
“What you need ‘ta do, Mr. Wilson, is relax. That’s one thing I learned in sniper school back in the day; you need ‘ta relax so you can focus on your mission.”
Ken started rubbing Brad’s shoulders and upper back. It took a minute, but Brad finally leaned his head forward and let Ken’s warm, strong hands work their magic. Out of the blue, Brad had a thought that made him laugh.
“You know, for someone who doesn’t have a body you sure give a good backrub.”
“Yeah, B, well for someone who doesn’t have a body you sure have nice hard muscles I can’t keep my hands off of.”
Ken started their normal banter, knowing it would distract Brad and slow his thoughts. Ken’s hands wandered, pushing every button he knew, not to turn things sexual, but to relax and soothe his lover. Once again, he rested his chin on Brad’s shoulder from behind, while his hands rubbed up and down Brad’s arms, or snaking around to hold him or rub his chest. He continued talking, making Brad laugh or smile, and besides that being one of his favorite things to do, he achieved his goal.
Brad lay in Ken’s arms, the place he never wanted to leave. Ken’s hard chest against his back, and Ken’s hands touching his body calmed him, allowing him to release the worry, anxiety, and pressure of figuring things out.
Brad knew what Ken did and why. While he rested in Ken’s arms, Brad continued processing their discussion, every word and detail, everything they said, everything they were… body, mind, and soul. Ken was the body, Brad was the mind, and they shared their souls.
If I’m the mind, I need to stop thinking in physical terms.
The words from Lane’s song echoed in the back of his mind, instructing him.
Open your Heart and Hands, my son…
Making a fist, Brad held his hand up and took a deep breath. As he slowly exhaled, he opened his hand, envisioning his mind and heart opening with it, like a flower in bloom. In his mind, he bound the images together metaphorically, and as his hand opened, Brad felt a slight sensation of falling outside himself.
Son of a bitch! I can feel it!
Locking onto the feeling, he repeated it, each time with more confidence. It was like learning to control a new muscle, by isolating it from everything else. His mind opened, expanding out of his body, and he went still to let himself acclimate for a moment. He still sensed Ken, and if he concentrated, felt their bodies touching.
Brad’s mind and body were now separate, yet one, and with concentration he could move his body, but he quickly adapted to what was happening. Reaching for Ken’s hands, he intertwined their fingers and pulled Ken’s arms around his waist.
The paradox of Ken and Brad having physical bodies while the place they were in was some sort of mental or spiritual construct was not lost on him. He assumed their minds were translating their interaction into terms they could grasp and understand.
Okay, here goes nothing.
<><>
The part of Brad outside himself dove into Ken. It was a strange sensation, like swimming through thick air, and once inside Ken’s mind, Brad sensed his surprise.
Brad?
Yeah … this is amazing!
What the hell did you do?
I’m inside you! Hold on to your hat. I know what I want to do, but I’m not sure how to do it.
Brad brought their minds completely together. With everything new to him he acted on instinct, and rather than being gentle, the merge was more like a high-speed head-on collision. Their blending wasn’t physically painful, just startling and highly uncomfortable emotionally. Neither of them was prepared for the brutal honesty between them, and the lack of barriers and self-protection mechanisms was overwhelming and frightening.
Even though humans are born innocent, early in life they learn deceit, often lying to get what they want. Children discover how to manipulate parents and siblings, and kids can be devastatingly cruel, lashing out because of self-centered needs or wants, or insecurities and emotional wounds, and those habits and behavioral patterns become ingrained in them as adults at various levels of their consciousness. Even good, honest men like Ken and Brad are potentially full of self-deception, petty jealousies, and lies. With their minds open and bare to one another, all their buffers, lies, and self-protection mechanisms were absent, leaving them genuinely naked to one another for the first time in their lives.
On every level imaginable, the awareness each of them had of the other caused a torrent of emotions - fear, resentment, embarrassment, anxiety, shame, guilt, and more – and it was overwhelming to the point that coherent thought eluded them. Brad was shocked at some of Ken’s insecurities regarding their relationship, and everything Ken wanted to say to him but never found the courage, all the things he wanted to try in bed but was afraid to ask, even how terrified he was the first time they made love. Ken discovered the same types of things in Brad and was just as shocked that deep down, Brad felt inferior to him and didn’t believe he was worthy or deserving of Ken’s love.
The reality of the myriad discoveries was traumatic, causing a significant amount of hurt and grief, but at the same time their underlying love for each other softened the harshness. They thought they were in love, and they were, but only as much as they were able to love one another in their bodies with their minds closed off from one another.
With everything about the other exposed and raw, they realized that to some degree, they were total strangers. Yet through the same exposure, they began to connect on a level neither of them could ever have imagined, delighting in discoveries and realizations about each other. They found themselves forgiving and asking for forgiveness for trespasses and transgressions neither realized they made and apologizing for any hurt they ever caused one another over inconsiderate actions, usually done unaware but sometimes made out of jealousy or anger.
The longer they stayed together, and the deeper they went into one another, the more their love grew, and the connection they built was beyond anything they believed possible. They saw each other as they were, emotionally naked with all their faults, and loved each other more than ever, with no judgment between them. They established true intimacy in the freedom to be themselves and be loved and accepted for who they were, as they were, unconditionally.
The merge happened at the speed of thought, and what seemed like hours, or even days, occurred in the blink of an eye. With no secrets between them, Ken knew what Brad planned to try. It would never have been possible without the connection they now shared and the knowledge they gleaned and put together of the doctor’s intent.
Brad had to force them apart, and as uncomfortable as their connection was at first, the thought of being separate was now worse.
<><>
Their eyes opened at the same time, with Brad still reclining against Ken, one hand holding Ken’s forearm and the other held before him where he opened his hand and mind. Tears ran down their cheeks, and their breath caught in their chests as their bodies reacted to the emotional intimacy between them.
They were silent for a second before blurting out a quiet “Fuck me!” at the same time, causing them to laugh. Ken’s other arm wrapped around Brad and pulled them together, burying his face in the crux of Brad’s neck and shoulder. The hug was intimate, even desperate, expressing everything physically that just happened emotionally.
Ken’s throat was tight, but he managed to say, “My God, Brad, you’re so fuckin’ beautiful. I always thought you were amazin’ on the outside, but damn, what the hell did I ever do to deserve such an incredible man in my life.”
Brad smiled in response, saying, “We deserve each other, Ken, and now you know beyond any doubt I feel the same. There can’t be any secrets between us after this. Assuming we live, we can be together like that as often and as long as we want.”
Ken laughed and said, “I’m gettin’ a mental hard-on, just thinkin’ about that.”
“Well, technically, everything up to now has been mental, which leads us to the next part of getting out of here.”
“Yeah. I understand what you’re gonna try. I hope it works. I can’t imagine us comin’ this far and then crappin’ out at the last second.”
“I’m still not sure what I’m going to do. I’ll have to improvise when I get back to the River. All these different levels are confusing. Whatever we are here, I’m pretty sure our minds are at the next level up where you fought the creature, and our bodies are still in the backyard with the guys. Who knows how much time has passed since all this started.”
Brad wasn’t sure if his plan would work, but he concentrated, sensing the part of him on the beach with Ken. Taking a deep breath, he leaned against Ken to relax and opened his mind, rising out of his body and hovering for a moment.
His focus was on getting back to the beach. If he was going to have any chance of saving Ken, he had to get back to the River. He envisioned the beach and the night sky in his mind’s eye and imagined the heat from the bonfire on his skin and the cracks and pops of the burning wood.
<><>
Brad went slack in his arms, and Ken remained still, enjoying the sensation of their naked bodies touching. Ken closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suddenly Brad was gone, the weight of his body vanished. He hoped that was a good sign.
Looking up into the darkness he said, “Good luck, B. If anyone can do this, it’s you.”
Ken crossed his legs to wait, already missing the other half of his soul.
<><>
There was no sense of movement, but the connection to his body strengthened, and suddenly Brad was on the beach hovering over their bodies, looking down on them with his new perceptions. The hurt and brokenness were tangible to him now, and while the damage to his own mind was significant, at first glance Ken’s seemed far worse.
Brad dove into his body, briefly fighting to maintain control and prevent himself from merging back where he belonged, and once settled, he pondered his next move.
Alright, I got here by visualizing where I wanted to be. Maybe that will work to fix what’s wrong, too.
Brad studied the damage in detail for a few moments, creating a visual image of what he needed to accomplish. The damage was mental, not physical, and he looked at the energy patterns of his psyche with an inherent sense of how his mind should be healthy and whole.
Satisfied he had a basic understanding of what needed to happen, Brad began knitting the tatters of his mind back together, starting with the less damaged areas. The task was slow and arduous, but his efforts seemed to work. He didn’t know the ratio of time between where Ken was and the constructed reality within his mind, or even the backyard where their bodies were. He had no choice but to keep working, and it seemed to take hours. Periodic exhaustion forced him to rest and refocus his efforts, and if he had been in his body, he was sure his chest would be heaving from exertion.
Staying focused, he lost himself in the pattern of finding and reuniting connections until finally, there was nothing left to fix. Exhausted, Brad merged back into his body, and his perceptions abruptly changed. The construct, even though it existed in his mind, seemed to operate like a physical place, and the pain and stiffness in his body returned. He was still draped across Ken, and the warmth of his solid body drove home a sense of urgency. He wanted Ken back more than anything so they could be together.
Opening his eyes, he rolled off Ken, and when he sat up, fresh tears filled his eyes at the vacant expression on Ken’s face. Repairing the damage to his own mind took its toll, and he realized the worst was yet to come. It took quite an effort because of his fatigue and the weight of Ken’s body, but Brad managed to lift Ken’s head and shoulders onto his lap. While he caught his breath, he stared at Ken’s face, caressing his forehead and brushing his hair back lovingly, drawing strength from the simple act of touching his soulmate.
It struck Brad how much he already missed the newfound bond he and Ken shared, literally feeling like half of him was missing.
Taking a deep breath to brace himself, he said, “Well, Ken, let’s get this show on the road.”
Brad placed his hands on either side of Ken’s head, holding him firmly, and with a furrow of concentration creasing his brow, Brad entered Ken’s mind.
Immediately he bounced back, recoiling in horror.
Fuck! How could it be so much worse!?
The damage wasn’t anything like what he repaired in his own mind!
Fear gripped him, fear that there was no way he could fix the devastation he witnessed. He started to cry, holding Ken’s head in his lap and rocking slowly as his tears dripped onto Ken’s forehead. His prevailing thought was he should have taken more. If he had only taken more… but then they would both be gone. The earlier truth of Ken’s words hit him, and he realized Ken might have been right all along.
How is this possible!?
Steadying himself, Brad plunged back into the desolation of what remained of Ken’s mind.
The connections were so shattered and disconnected, it was like finding ten thousand needles in a thousand haystacks, hunting and shifting through every shred until he found a match to repair. In only a short time Brad was about to pass out from exhaustion, and he had barely scratched the surface.
<><><>
As the song came to an end, the backyard fell silent again.
Kevin broke the quiet, asking, “Now what?”
Lane replied, “Now we wait. Whatever we did helped, I just hope it was enough.”
Bill, monitoring both Brad and Ken, said, “Guys, they’re breathing again; their pulses are weak but steady. If they get worse, we’ll call the doc.”
After a long, tense five minutes, Brad’s pulse started racing and Bill said, “Something’s happening.”
Brad broke out into a heavy sweat, his breathing labored and raspy like he was exerting himself. His face flushed, and veins in his forehead, temples, and neck stood out as tears leaked from his eyes.
While Brad exhibited signs of extreme exertion, Ken’s pulse weakened to the point where it was barely discernible.
<><>
Desperation was taking hold. Exhausted from his efforts, Brad was barely making any progress, and he instinctively felt time was running out. A groan of frustration escaped him when he had to stop and rest again, about ready to collapse.
Okay, Brad. This isn’t working. Think, dumbass! Think!
A thought tugged at the back of his mind, but whatever it was kept eluding him. His thoughts racing out of control, he was beginning to panic. Just a short time ago Ken helped him relax, forcing him to stop and slow down, allowing him to focus.
Ken always knows what’s best for me.
Brad repeated the phrase like a mantra and used his perfect recall to remember Ken’s hands and their effect on him. Immersing himself in the memory calmed him, and when his thoughts slowed, he heard it… the haunting, beautiful song Lane sang. The one from his dream. The one he wrote at the River!
Fuck! Lane’s been here! Maybe he can help!
After a short rest and encouraged by the thought of help, he focused and tried to contact Lane. Visualizing Lane in the backyard with everyone, he formed the picture, holding it firmly in his mind and mentally shouted as loud as he could.
<><><>
Lane and Bill huddled on either side of Ken and Brad. After Lane finished his song, he set his guitar down and moved closer, holding one of Brad’s hands and keeping his other hand on Brad’s chest, feeling his heartbeat. Bryan stayed at Lane’s side with his hands on Lane’s shoulders.
Out of the blue, Brad’s voice shouted in Lane’s mind.
Lane!
Lane’s head snapped up in surprise, and he would have fallen over if Bryan wasn’t supporting him. His eyes widened, and everyone saw them turn white.
Brad!?
Lane! Thank God, you can hear me. Fuck, man, I need your help. I can’t do this by myself!
Brad, you and Ken aren’t looking so good. We can tell something’s happening, but we don’t know what to do. How the fuck are we talking in our heads?
Lane, I don’t have time to explain. This might hurt, and I’m sorry, but…
Lane groaned and grabbed his head, unprepared for the searing pain as Brad pushed the information into his mind to show him how to help.
Through their mental communication, Lane was keenly aware of Brad’s regret at causing him such discomfort. Instinctively, Brad knew he needed to keep their communication as much on the surface as possible. Merging like he did with Ken would have been too much, too soon.
As Lane’s mind assimilated the information, the realization Ken and Brad had about the project and what the doctor did to them became clear, and he let out a mental: Oh shit!
Damn, that hurt like a son of a bitch!
I know, and I’m sorry. This is all new to me, too, and I’m learning as I go. Do you think you can help? Please, Lane, I don’t think Ken has much time.
Not only yes, but hell yes. You know you don’t have to ask, you dumbfuck. Gimme a sec, I need to talk to these ladies before they pee their pants.
<><>
Bryan’s fingers digging into his shoulders brought Lane’s perceptions back to his body.
“Lane! Talk to me! What’s wrong?”
“I'm all right, Bry. Help me up.”
Bryan stood up and brought Lane up with him.
“Guys, we don’t have much time. I know it’s weird, but Brad’s talking to me in my head and needs our help. Ken’s in bad shape, and Brad’s not much better. Bill, Darren, and Loy come over here. Bry, Kev, Ricky, and Pat, if Brad or Ken stop breathing again do whatever you need to do to keep them alive and give us as much time as you can.”
Turning back to Bill, Darren, and Loy, he continued, “Guys, we should sit down for this. I don’t want you knuckleheads falling like sissies and splitting your skulls open. Face me and hold hands.”
Between the strangeness of Lane’s song and the effect it had on them, coupled with Ken and Brad’s condition and Lane talking to Brad in his head, they were unnerved. Adrenaline coursed through them, and they were tense and sweating, but Lane’s instruction triggered their military discipline, and the act of following orders gave them something to focus on in the middle of the chaos and uncertainty.
<><>
Brad?
Yeah, I’m here.
I’m bringing company, buddy. Hold tight!
Understanding how Brad was able to leave his body, Lane didn’t have time to be gentle and yanked Bill, Darren, and Loy out of theirs. He figured they were wired for it, just as he and Brad were, and he didn’t want to give them time to overthink the situation, letting their instincts kick in. The doc told him to have faith in himself and go with his gut…
Lane grinned and couldn’t help but think to himself: Fuck, yeah! I could get used to this shit!
<><>
Bill, Darren, and Loy felt like they got hit with a two by four on the back of their heads.
Alright guys, take a breath and settle down.
No longer in the backyard of Ken and Brad’s house, they found themselves standing on a beach under a clear night sky beside a roaring bonfire. Brad sat on the ground with Ken’s head in his lap and seemed unaware of them, his legs and shorts covered in blood from the gashes in Ken’s back.
Alright, Brad, I’m here with Bill, Dar, and Loy. We’re with you and Ken on the beach. Guys, I know this is all new and sudden, but you’re going to have to learn how to do this on the fly if Ken has a chance of making it out of this. Ken’s mind was shredded, and Brad’s trying to piece it back together before their bodies give out in the backyard. All this Professor X bullshit is taking its toll, and we have to give Brad whatever he needs to finish the job.
Shit Lane, you brought the cavalry. Thanks, guys. I don’t know if this is going to hurt or not. Hell, I’m not sure it won’t kill some of us, so if anyone wants to back out, there’s no hard feelings.
Through the mental link, the raw emotion behind Brad’s words was clear; his desperation to save Ken, his gratitude at their presence, and his sincerity about giving them a chance to back out.
They wondered briefly at the strange transition between their minds and bodies, but their military discipline coupled with their love and support of Ken and Brad overrode any concerns, and they pushed all other thoughts and questions aside so they could face their brother’s need.
Their voices were loud and clear in his mind, and Brad heard their words along with the intent behind them.
Loy: I’m in.
Bill: Take whatever you need, Brad.
Darren: No way these sissies are outdoing me. You know I’m in.
The selfless support and care they offered deeply affected him, filling Brad with warmth in the middle of his worry and anxiety over Ken, and even though they weren’t touching, he felt their hands on his shoulders and back supporting him.
Lane moved behind Brad, placing his hands on Brad’s head. He wasn’t sure if it mattered, but it couldn’t hurt.
Guys, get behind me and put your hands on my shoulders.
Bill: Take your shirt off, Lane. The doc’s always talking about the importance of skin contact. Your hands are touching Brad, and he’s touching Ken. It might not matter, but why take a chance?
Grinning, Lane stripped off his t-shirt, thinking: I’m sure you just want to cop a feel, but whatever.
Even in the direst situations in all their years running missions in Syria, Lane always managed to lighten the mood. With their newly awakened perceptions, all of them sank into the camaraderie between them, letting it wrap around them; their bonds ran deep, forged in their time in the military as SEALS running covert Special Operations and depending on each other for survival. They were brothers and would do anything for one another with no questions asked.
Loy, Bill, and Darren each placed a hand on Lane’s back, and their other hand gripped the hand or shoulder of the man next to him. Brad held Ken’s head in both his hands and Lane did the same to him.
Operating on pure instinct and intuition, Lane was going with his gut and following the doctor’s advice. Even though what was happening was new to all of them, it seemed natural. The part of them that had been dormant for years after their initial changes was waking up; they were, as Lane put it, wired for what was happening.
Lane: Alright, guys, I’ll be the conduit. I’m going to channel all of us together and feed Brad what he needs.
With the comfort of his brothers around him, feeding him their strength, Brad plunged back into Ken’s mind. To his awareness, they were pillars of light, and he was unprepared for the amount of power that hit him.
Lane: Sorry! I’ll dial it back a little.
No! It just was more than I expected. You guys are badass! I’ll need it all before we’re finished.
Bolstered by the support of his friends, Brad dove back into Ken, and with their backing he moved much faster. Because the damage in Ken’s mind was unlike his own and far more extensive, it took longer, and near the halfway point they started to falter. None of them were used to the new type of exertion and didn’t know how to conserve their strength or maximize their efforts, and they were breathing hard and sweating, pushing full throttle with everything they had in them.
With jaws clenched, their faces showed the intensity of their efforts.
Brad: Guys, how are you holding up?
Brad heard the mental equivalent of them gritting their teeth, but each of them said they were fine. They couldn’t lie mind to mind, so he knew the truth of their words. They were tiring but would not give up, not when Ken needed them.
Lane, can you manage to talk to Bryan and see how Ken’s doing topside?
With the time variance Lane was silent for a short time while he spoke to Bryan, and when he finally replied, he sounded worried.
Brad, they just started CPR on you and Ken. Your hearts have stopped, and Kev is calling the doc.
Damn! Okay, guys, don’t panic. There’s a significant time differential, so we’re alright for a bit. I know you’re tired, but if we can hold out just a little longer…
With the news of what was happening the power flowing into Brad surged, but he had no idea how long they could keep it up. He worked as quickly as he could, becoming more adept at finding and repairing connections, and the overall damage lessened as he learned how Ken’s mind worked, enabling him to see patterns where Ken’s unconscious mind tried to protect itself. Despite their efforts Brad had an intuitive sense something more profound was happening, but he didn’t have any idea what to do about it, so he continued as best he could, hoping and praying it would be enough.
Brad realized they weren’t going to finish in time and focused on making as many essential connections as possible and left the rest incomplete. He hoped if there was an initial connection, Ken’s mind could attempt to build off those links and heal itself.
Within seconds of one another, his friends dropped out of the link. Darren passed out first, then Loy, and then Bill. Lane was still with him but hardly had anything left to give, and Brad was holding on by a thread himself.
Lane, I still need to get Ken back to his body. I have to save what strength I have left for that, or all this won’t mean anything.
What do you mean get him? Where is he?
It’s hard to explain. We were together, somewhere, and I came back here to do this.
Can I help?
No Lane, you’ve done more than enough. You’ve all done more than Ken and I have a right to ask.
That’s bullshit, and you know it. Alright man, I'm going to bounce. I think I’m going to sleep for a week!
See you topside.
<><>
Taking a deep breath, Brad set the image of Ken in his mind and willed himself back to his lover. The blackness seemed colder and longer returning to Ken as if he were much further away, and as he appeared Brad barely squeaked out, “Hey, man,” before collapsing.
“Brad!”
Ken moved fast enough to catch him before he hit the ground, picking him up and cradling him against his chest. Brad didn’t have the strength to form words, so he merged their minds again.
Immediately, Ken was aware of everything Brad and his buddies did up to that point. Stunned at how much danger they put themselves in for him he was angry at Brad for asking and allowing them to do what they did, but at the same time their love and intent were evident. His anger turned to acceptance, even pride at their efforts, and he was humbled by what they were willing to sacrifice for him.
With tears in his eyes from the emotional intensity of everything he learned, Ken thought: So, what now, B?
Ken, I’m not sure what we did was enough. I tried so hard, we all did, but the damage was so much worse than I imagined.
Ken tightened his arms, kissing the top of Brad’s head and wrapping his presence around him.
I know you did your best. All of you did. How could I ask for more than you’ve already done?
When Ken picked him up, with the touch of their skin, Brad started feeling better, but he was still near the end of his endurance. With the intimacy of their merge, both men were very aware of being naked and touching, taking comfort from both aspects of their connection. Ken set Brad down, and they assumed their signature hug with their chins resting on each other’s shoulders and their arms wrapped around each other tightly. The physical touch soothed them even more with their minds blended, and with Time barely moving they held their embrace, not wanting to let go.
Realizing they were putting off the inevitable, Ken eventually broke the silence.
B, you gotta promise me if we make it back and it didn’t work… Well, I don’t wanna live broken. Promise me you won’t try ‘ta keep me around if I’m too far gone.
It tore Brad’s heart out, but he reluctantly agreed.
First things first, we need to make it back to the beach, then I need to get us back to our bodies. Let’s go.
<><>
Brad expected it to be more difficult, but there was no strain; their souls wanted to return to the part of them still at the River. It took longer than expected and he almost panicked, thinking they would be lost in the darkness forever, and a sigh of relief escaped him when they appeared on the beach.
Separating their minds, Brad gently pushed Ken into his body and then went back into his own.
Opening his eyes, he gazed down at Ken, noting the now peaceful expression on his face as if he were asleep. His eyes were closed, but the chilling, vacant expression from earlier was gone, and Brad took encouragement from that.
God, I hope it was enough, Ken. You have to be alright.
“Okay, step one completed. I don’t know what to expect when we get back to our bodies. No matter what, I love you.”
He leaned over and kissed Ken’s forehead, putting all his love into the gesture.
Closing his eyes, Brad gathered the last of his strength and willed them out of that place and back to their physical bodies in the backyard. The River was a construct within Brad’s mind, a place he needed to hold the creature prisoner, and with the construct no longer needed it shattered into non-existence as Brad and Ken left it for the final time.
<><><>
Bryan and Rick monitored Ken while Kevin and Patrick watched Brad, keeping tabs on their vital signs. While watching over Brad and Ken, they kept stealing nervous glances at their partners to make sure they were alright. The events of the night were unlike anything they had ever experienced even with their enhancements and abilities, and there was an edge of nervousness they were unaccustomed to. Together, particularly as a team, they had yet to encounter anything they couldn’t overcome.
Bryan’s deep voice tensed as he said, “Ricky! Ken stopped breathing!”
They immediately started CPR with Bryan blowing air into Ken’s mouth while Rick performed chest compressions, maintaining oxygen perfusion to Ken’s brain and heart.
Seconds later Brad stopped breathing, and Kevin and Patrick started CPR on him. Rick set his phone down and hit the doctor’s number on speed dial, putting it on speaker. The call went straight to voicemail, and Rick hit the key to bypass the greeting message, yelling towards the phone, “Doc! We have multiple 911s here! We need you now!”
Rick kept shifting his eyes to Lane and the others, watching for some sign of what was happening. He had no way to signal and let them know what was going on with Ken and Brad.
It wasn’t long before Lane, Loy, Bill, and Darren started breathing heavy and sweating, outwardly exhibiting the strain of what was occurring in their minds. A minute later Darren fell over unconscious, followed by Loy, then Bill, and finally Lane, all within the space of a few seconds.
When Darren collapsed Pat let out a frustrated, “FUCK!” and rushed over to check on him, but it was quickly apparent Darren and the others were alright and breathing normally.
Pat said, “I think they passed out. They seem fine, just exhausted.”
He leaped back over and resumed chest compressions on Brad.
Kevin was about ready to call it when Brad’s eyes popped open. He jerked upright, sucking air into his lungs, and looked around briefly with a confused expression before promptly passing out.
A split-second later Ken’s body jerked and went still, but he started breathing on his own.
Rick’s phone dinged with a text message from the doctor.
“The doc says he’s aware of everything and to get everybody to the lab, ASAP!”
<><>
It took a few trips to get the six unconscious men loaded into their Explorers without the neighbors seeing anything, and then they took off for the lab.
An agitated doctor waited for them at the door, adding to the strangeness of the night’s events. In all their years of working with him, the doctor never panicked even when someone was hurt, and seeing him upset was unnerving.
Kevin, Bryan, Rick, and Pat quickly and efficiently got everyone inside, stripped, and into a bed, helping the doctor with the ECG leads, catheters, and other equipment.
Bryan was normally stoic and reserved, but Kevin noticed how calm he seemed even with Lane unconscious. Wondering if something else was going on, he asked Bryan if everything was alright.
“It’s hard to describe Kev, but I just know Lane’s okay. We’ve been using that trick Ken and Brad discovered, and ever since that first night we’ve been more in tune with one another. Then Lane started having these dreams, which were all a part of this. I’m not sure what’s happening to us, and I know it looks like a disaster tonight, but I can’t help feeling that everything’s fine. I just wish the doc would tell us more.”
Kevin looked thoughtful but didn’t reply, and not long after their exchange the doctor called everyone together.
“William, Loy, Darren, and Lane are stable. None of them are familiar with exerting themselves in this new manner, and they exhausted themselves. If you think of the mind as a muscle, they will need to exercise their new abilities over time to gain strength and endurance. What they did was remarkable, and you should be very proud of them.”
Bryan asked, “What about Brad and Ken?”
“I am not sure. I believe Bradford will fully recover, but we must wait until Kenneth wakes to assess his condition.”
<><>
Later that night, the doctor stood between the beds where Brad and Ken lay recovering. With a heavy sigh he recited an ancient prayer for his young charges, wondering how events could have gotten out of control so quickly. The timing of Ken’s abduction just as he, Brad, and now Lane, experienced their first awakening… He sensed outside influences amidst events, but whose?
Ken showed no outward sign of any injuries, but the Doctor wasn’t sure what state his mind might be in when he regained consciousness. The temptation to find out was almost unbearable, but in all the years of his penance he had not broken his oath, and for the sake of the other young men in his care, he refrained.
Brad and the others were heroic in their efforts to save Ken, even at significant risk to themselves, and would recover with rest, but the doctor had an uneasy feeling about Ken.
As he went back to his office, it dawned on him how quiet the lab was. Looking around, he saw Bryan, Rick, Pat, and Kevin fast asleep. He thought it odd, but with the stress of the evening they were most likely exhausted. The only sounds in the lab were the occasional chirps and beeps of equipment.
In the middle of the night, while monitoring Ken’s brain activity from his office, there was a sudden massive spike on the monitor. Rushing to the room where Brad and Ken were still asleep, he saw no outward sign of what happened. He turned on the small reading lamp at the head of Ken’s bed to see better, and as he reached for Ken’s wrist to check his pulse, he noticed a rolled-up parchment sitting on the nightstand.
The doctor’s heart nearly faltered at the sight of the wax seal binding the apparent missive. His hands trembling, he picked it up, examining it more closely. Yes! It had been nearly a century since he last saw it, but he would recognize it anywhere; two quills crossed, each with a drop of ink at its tip. His heart raced as he looked around the lab, almost frantic for any sign of the man he knew left the note.
Not seeing anyone, he thought: Disappointing, but not unexpected.
Quickly checking Brad and Ken to reaffirm they were alright, the doctor left the room and returned to his office. Once at his desk, his hands shaking, he broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. It was written in an elegant flowing script, in a language few in the world could now read.
<>
Aaron, my love,
How I yearn to see you again after the long years that have separated us. I begged Charisa to bring this message so I could at least be near you, even for the briefest of seconds.
It seems you are doing well. I have had news of your mission, and the Elders are pleased. Pleased enough to right a grievous wrong of which you are most likely unaware. It seems one of our brethren betrayed The Order to The Enemy, and he is the one ultimately responsible for the deception and kidnapping of Kenneth Habersham, orchestrating the entire affair through a former colleague of yours, General Burgess.
I am sure you found it curious that two of your charges, and now possibly others, have experienced their first awakening. This is no coincidence. Nephilim have shown themselves recently, but we are unsure what their presence means, and there are ripples everywhere.
Because of the direct interference of The Enemy, I was allowed to act and restore Kenneth Habersham. As brave and heroic an effort as Brad Wilson and the others made, their efforts were not enough. The damage to young Habersham’s mind was not natural, and even with full training and at the height of their abilities, it might not have been possible. Fortunately for us, the zeal of our Enemy was their undoing. Their transgression against the balance allowed us an opening to correct this wrong. Sent by Charissa with a Blessing from The Mantle, I finished what Brad Wilson and the others started.
In the morning, Ken Habersham will awake healed and whole and can continue his path of discovering his awakened talents along with your other charges.
Aaron, after reading Ken and the others, I believe we were right all along! The Elders must see it even if they are too stubborn to admit it. These young men will be our salvation!
It is my fervent prayer that you and I will be united once again before too many years come to pass. Until then, my love, I wish you well and safe journey and continued success in your mission.
With all my love,
Albrecht
<>
Knowing Albrecht had been in the lab, so close yet unable to communicate in person, was heartbreaking. Even in the joy and relief of knowing Ken would fully recover, in a rare show of vulnerability, the doctor wept silently in the quiet of the lab, holding the scroll in his hands and trying to envision the face of the man who wrote it.
He decided not to tell his young charges what happened, at least not immediately. They needed time to recover and grow into themselves. He was so proud of each and every one of them and realized over the years if he gave them space, they grew better and stronger without being pushed.
It was late, so the doctor checked on his charges one more time and then went to his bed to dream about Albrecht, the love of his life and the other half of his soul.
<><>
Early the next morning, everyone except Ken was up and moving by 0600. None of them were in the mood to do PT, so a few of the guys ventured out to get breakfast for everyone. The doctor, not an early riser, didn’t come out of his room until nearly 0930.
When he finally emerged from his room, nine impatient men awaited him. Shuffling over to get some coffee, which they politely left for him, he sat down to eat his breakfast, deliberately eating slow. Knowing the men would fidget, he had a hard time not smiling at their impatience. He enjoyed teasing them but knew their anxiety over Ken was very real, so he didn’t prolong his joke.
Once finished, pushing his plate back and wiping his mouth with a napkin, he turned to them and asked, “I take it you are all feeling better?”
Everyone nodded their confirmation.
“And you, Bradford, are you sure you feel well?”
“Just a little tired, doc. Other than that, I feel better than I have in over a month. With that thing out of me, I’m as good as new.”
“I am pleased to hear that; however, I wish to run some tests to be sure. We must be absolutely certain your body suffers no lasting damage.”
Brad asked impatiently, “Doc, Ken’s still asleep. Do you know if he’s going to be okay?”
“Well, I have some good news and some bad news as far as Kenneth is concerned. Which would you like to hear first?”
All of them needed some good news, especially Brad, who was about to burst, and he blurted out, “Good first!”
“Well, my boy, the good news is that Kenneth is going to make a full recovery.”
He didn’t get any further before Brad let out a “WHOOP!” and jumped into the air. His eyes immediately reddened, and his chest tightened with emotion as relief took hold of him.
Everyone let out cries of ‘alright!’ and ‘I knew it,' and there were hugs and high fives all around. Each of them pulled Brad into a firm embrace, expressing their own relief and happiness at the news. The smiles and tears in their eyes stated how much the news meant to them. It took a minute for everyone to settle down, and even then none of them could wipe the grins off their faces.
Brad felt as if the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders, and with a slight tremble in his voice, he said, “Okay, doc. Let’s get the bad news out of the way.”
“The bad news is that you will have to contain yourself for a few more days. I have Kenneth in an induced coma to give his mind time to finish mending. I am assisting his recovery as much as I am safely able to do, but it will still take a few days. The mind is very complex, and the damage severe, but you all did an exceptional job and should be extremely proud of yourselves.”
The doctor disliked bending the truth, but the time wasn’t right to reveal what happened.
Brad picked the doctor up in a bear hug and whispered with a choked voice in his ear, “Thank you so much, doc. I don’t know what I would have done if I lost him.”
One of his rare smiles crossed the doctor’s face, and he patted Brad on his back, saying, “Me too, my boy, me too.”
Another round of exuberant hoots and hollers followed, and the smiles and tears of relief continued. They were going to get their friend, their brother, their Captain back!
<><><>
With the assurance Ken was going to be alright, everyone but Brad left the lab. Before they left, the doctor reiterated the rule of no one traveling alone, whether it was work, shopping, running errands, or whatever. It would make life more difficult, but everyone would cope, and after Ken’s abduction, the necessity from a tactical and safety perspective was more evident than ever.
Each couple asked Brad if he wanted them to stay and be with him while he waited, and he was touched by their offers but declined, knowing they needed their own rest and recuperation after all the stress. They hugged him long and tight or cupped his neck or shoulders with firm squeezes of comfort before they left, making sure he knew how important he was to them, as well as Ken. Brad soaked it all in, and their support and affections, along with knowing Ken was going to be alright, gave him a sense of inner peace and strength to wait patiently. He promised to let all of them know as soon as Ken woke up.
The doctor used the last of the prepared syringes on Brad to ensure his body’s full recovery. His organs did exhibit signs of minor distress, but by the following morning, with the increased potency of the serum, his body completely regenerated.
The doctor started returning to his house in the evenings, and Brad pulled another bed into Ken’s room so he could sleep beside him. Even though Ken was going to be alright Brad hardly left his side, holding his hand while watching TV, reading, or while he slept.
Without being asked, the guys took turns dropping by over the next few days to visit and make sure Brad and the doctor were well fed.
The doctor didn’t tell Brad he scheduled the induced coma to stop the morning of the third day.
<><><>
Brad had a strange sense of being watched, and it woke him up out of a deep sleep. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw Ken stretched out on his side with his head propped up on one hand. The sight of him, awake and healthy, even though Brad knew he was going to be alright, hit him hard. Brad’s eyes raked over all of him, from his feet to his handsome face, drinking in the sight, and finally their eyes met.
With a grin, Ken said, “Hey, handsome. What’s a fella gotta do around here ‘ta get some food? I’m starvin’!”
Even knowing Ken was going to recover, when Brad saw him awake and heard his voice he was overcome with emotion. He threw himself on Ken, wrapping his arms around him and burrowing his face against Ken’s neck, bawling like a baby, sobbing so hard his throat closed and he couldn’t talk. Ken cried too while he held Brad and let him cry, one hand cupping the back of his head and the other rubbing his back.
Brad finally managed to say, “Fuck, Ken, I love you so much. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t made it.”
Ken’s throat was tight too, but he managed to whisper, “Shhhh B, it’s okay. I love you too! I’m right here, and I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
After a slight pause Ken chuckled, hugging Brad even tighter and said, “I was about ‘ta say more than you’ll ever know, but that’s not true anymore, is it?”
Brad pulled back enough to look into Ken’s eyes, and Ken cupped Brad’s face in his hands, wiping away the tears with his thumbs. Ken was right, and now that he was awake, they were aware of the connection between them.
Brad sniffed and said, “This is going to take some getting used to. We won’t even have to talk if we don’t want to.”
Brad put his comment into action, pulling their minds together, and their awareness of each other deepened to an intimately painful state with their thoughts and emotions open and bare to one another.
The relief Brad experienced when he saw Ken awake was there, and also excitement at seeing his naked, muscular body. There was no embarrassment over that, and Ken’s reaction was the same. Their bodies wanted to connect just as their minds did, and their breath caught in their chests as their eyes watered in response to what was happening.
Brad lifted up his t-shirt, slowly peeling it off, and Ken drank in the sight of his lover, grinning when he saw the tent in Brad’s jeans.
B, you better get those jeans off fast unless you want me ‘ta rip them off.
Ken somehow managed to produce a small bottle of lube, handing it to Brad, and he realized Ken planned what was happening.
With a grin, Brad thought: You douche.
Ken grinned back and thought: You’re just jealous ‘cause I’m one step ahead of ‘ya. You slept too long.
Unable to quit smiling, Brad was naked in seconds. It had been weeks since they had been together in the physical realm, and their need for one another was apparent. Ken started their physical bond, and with the additional element of their minds blended, their lust and love elevated to an entirely new level.
When Ken entered Brad, both of them thought: Oh, fuck, that’s amazing, at the same time, making them laugh, but the shared intimacy of their minds and bodies quickly consumed them.
Neither one of them had ever been more turned on or attracted to the other. As much as Ken wanted to take things slow and reacquaint themselves with one another, their urgency was too much to put off, and their coupling became a fast and frantic need to get off. In only a few minutes, they were both sweating and breathing heavily, while Ken continued a running dialogue in Brad’s mind of how hot he was, how much he loved him, and what a great lover he was. Brad was never as verbal, but his emotions were clear, which turned Ken on even more.
The moment seemed to take forever, and it might have as deeply as they were in each other. Their orgasms built quickly and hit them hard, but neither of them went soft. Strength flooded into Brad as their DNA reacted, and Ken was able to rest his full weight on his lover. It was the first time they made physical love while merged, and the entire experience was different. Each knew what the other wanted without having to be told; where or how to touch, or lick, or caress. With one orgasm behind them they lasted longer, exploring each other and relishing their new connection.
Once they both came again, they continued to kiss and cuddle, pressed together while looking into each other’s eyes. No words were spoken or thought, they simply rested in one another, content to be together in mind and body.
As their breath finally returned to normal, Ken’s stomach let out the loudest rumble of hunger Brad had ever heard. Their eyes went wide in surprise, and they both busted out laughing. Brad put his hands on Ken’s chest to push himself up, getting in one last squeeze of Ken’s rock-solid body.
Brad said, “Okay, let’s get you something to eat. I need to feed you.”
Ken sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around Brad before he could move away, pulling Brad back against him for one more hug and kissed his back. With his face pressed against Brad’s back his voice was slightly muffled as he said, “Yeah, B, seriously, I can’t believe you put your selfish need ‘ta get off before my well-bein’. I’m gonna have ‘ta talk ‘ta the doc about the hired help.”
Brad laughed and replied, “Alright mister, get your ass off that bed. We need to throw these sheets in the wash and grab a quick shower. I want to take you someplace nice, and while I have the utmost appreciation for how you smell right now, I’m not sure the general public does.”
<><>
Neither of them stated the obvious because now they could feel it, but they were relieved to have all the nastiness behind them and to be back to normal. Well, mostly normal. The fact they heard and felt each other’s thoughts wasn’t exactly normal and would take some getting used to. It was nice to relax with each other and be themselves, with no barriers between them.
They thought they were perfect together before, but living with their minds open and bare to one another was both liberating and frightening. It was also beautiful, and neither of them would change it for all the world. To know each other so intimately was something neither of them had ever dreamed possible.
They knew the doctor wanted to talk to them, but for the time being he gave them space and time to themselves. There were significant adjustments ahead of them, and Brad had a lot to learn about controlling his new abilities.
