Chapter 23: Unexpected Surprises

"Welcome to the Central Laboratory of Research Councils.  One of Europe's largest multidisciplinary research organizations supporting scientists and engineers worldwide."

I was in awe when the car pulled into the area.  Large, wide, buildings stretched across the flat plains.  To think I wouldn't get a tour was a crime and punishment all in one.  I wanted to explore!
Get lost within a world of technology!  Science, math!  I was in heaven.  Jumping off of cloud nine, I remembered they were bringing me here for experiments, and that heaven was a stone
throw's away.  I started to shiver as the car went in to park.  Stuart turned to watch my expression.

"Welcome home, Jewel."

Home?  Was he nuts?  No one in their right mind would dare call this place, 'home.'  Even if I was feeling under the weather, I knew what was going to happen to me once they got me settled in.
Stepping out, a breeze whipped up my hair.  The sun was shining brightly but the winds were fridgid.  England was known for it's dreary weather.  Even with the sun out, I still caught a bit of a chill.
Looking to the left, there was a huge, cylinder-shape building in the back that reminded me of a fatter version of the PSA from Sea World when I took a trip to Orlando with Edward.  Only, this
thing, I had no idea what was inside.

"This way, Jewel."  Stuart ushered me in the direction of the cylinder-shaped thing.  Good, maybe now I'll know what's in there.  "We have many facilities here, Jewel, that I think a lot would interest
you.  Computational Science, Engineering, Instrumentation, ISIS, Lasers, Particle Physics, Space Science and Technology, Synchrotron Radiation.  It all may sound foreign to you but there's no need
for you to know anything about it.  Come, we have arranged a private meeting with our boss."

Once inside the doors of one of the hundreds of rooms, I smelled strange toxins in the air.  Chemicals being mixed, people wearing lab coats and running around with strange looking objects.
Specimen tools was what Stuart referred to them as.  Instruments of science use to test things and collect samples of tissue, blood, odd liquids, and any other type of matter you can imagine.
The people looked kind when I walked by.  Some frowned to my appearance; I assumed the little cold was showing on the outside and it frightened them that I would leave a virus in their
facility.  I pulled my hair back into my black scrunchie to make me look somewhat decent.  My clothes were begging to be washed as well as my body.

"Hello, Stuart."  A tall, brunette approached us with black-rimmed glasses and a gleaming white, lab, coat.  "Is this her?"

"The one and only."  Stuart pushed me forward.  "You know what to do, right?"

"Yes.  Yes, I do."  The brunette smiled to me.  Stuart took my hand and kissed it.  Oh, brother; let me puke all over him right now!

"Farewell, Jewel.  You were quite a woman.  I will surely miss you."

"You don't have to do this."  I whispered.  "You really don't.   Please, let me go and I swear I won't tell a soul about any of what I saw here."

"But, Jewel.  You already know too much as it is." 

"God, I told you, I know nothing!  What is it that I know that I don't even know?"  Wait, did that sound right?

"You know those Turtles, they told you their origin.  Your father worked at that power plant during the major toxic spill, he knew too much and left precious notes behind before changing his identity.
Your husband had a job with our company, he was finding out about us and what our operation is.  It's like one big jigsaw puzzle.  And you, Jewel, were the missing piece.  The locket given to you
from Edward was really from our department.  Your father's notes were obtained and read over to find several chemicals that made up the toxic ooze which created your companions.  It was tested
but the results were hazardous.  Something was missing from that we couldn't figure out."

I gasped and looked to the brunette whom remained silent the whole time.

"But, why does this involve me, Stuart?  You are not making any sense!"

Stuart motioned me over to a wall near a corner.

"As I've said before.  It's a personal matter.  We don't need you but the boss has been eager to get his hands on you for quite sometime.  Plus, you had his precious locket with the codes inside of it.
The thing was made to look like an ordinary necklace.  It was one of our female assistant idea's to even use such a trinket.  Now that we have the necklace and you, his plans are almost complete."

"If the necklace was the most important thing here, I would have given it to you.  HAD I KNOWN!!"

"But would you have given up your life so easily?"  I swallowed hard on that one.  He's making it sound like this was my destiny to end up like this."  There's no turning back now.  The boss is waiting.
And I must collect my reward for your capture."

I gave him a good slap across the face, the crack echoed in the large room.

"You, bastard.  If I said that once, I'll say it a thousand times over.  You never cared about me.  All you wanted was money and to see me dead so that your little secret wouldn't get out."
Stuart stared long and full.  I figured it out!  That was it!  Money and murder.  Aside from a major testing done here, I was set to die because I knew too much.  That is, my family knew it
all along.  I was just a casualty in this whole war affair.

"You'll remember nothing after your meeting with our boss, Jewel.  God speed your soul to heaven."

Before I said something in his lying face, he turned away, not looking back to me.  A group of technicians started to drag me away as I was all fist and shouting to his strutting backside.

"Bastard!  Damn you, you horrid bastard!  I hope you rot in hell with no one but the greed that you so chose upon to live with!"  I turned to the brunette.  "You're with me on this, right?"

"I have my orders, ma'am.  I must obey them."

"Yeah, I bet you do."  And what gun was pointed to her head?  I got somewhat of a view as I was escorted down the many halls.  I felt like I was heading for the electric chair the way the
people walked with me.  Left arm up, right arm down, right arm up, left arm down.  Oh, brother.  I had to think fast of a way to escape.

Lucy and the Turtles departed from the train at the Warrington Central station.  They too, experienced the cold winds whipping around in the air.  Lucy sneezed twice to indicate her sniffles were
worsening.  Raph patted her back as Mike handed her a small package of tissues that he collected from the train ride.

"Haaaank ooo."  Lucy took the wad of tissues and blew her nose.  The Turtles made a face to the lovely sound she made.  She pulled the tissues away to reveal a bright, red nose.

"Look, it's Rudolph!"  Mike exclaimed.  Helpful, yet insulting.

"Ooooh, stob it!"  Lucy wailed.  "That's nob funny!"

Raph put an arm around her.

"It's okay, sweetie...."  then quickly glared to his brother.  "I oughta pound ya, Mike!"

"Oh, you should talk, o' loving brother o' mine.  When I was sick, the only thing you gave me was your bad attitude."

"Hey, my attitude healed ya a lot faster!  Girls need to feel affection when they're under the weather."  Raph whapped his head.  "Haven't I taught ya anything?"

Leo started to walk off the platform.

"Come on, guys.  What does the map say about taxis, Don?" 

Don pulled out and unfolded the map.

"Lesseeee.  Cheshire.  Welcome to our fabulous city....blah, blah, blah.  Here we are, Warrington Central Station.  Taxi services are available from the station and will take about 15 minutes to
reach the Laboratory."

Leonardo looked up and down at the line of cars.  The cabs were all too small for five individuals.

"We could bus it."  He said quietly.  "Does it say anything about a bus going to the laboratory?"

"Alternatively, a local bus service operates between Warrington Bus Station and Daresbury village.  It doesn't say anything about stopping at C.L.R.C.  The lab is in Daresbury.  We could be
riding any route and miss our stop."

Lucy took the map next.

"Lebb me have a look, Don.  I'm nob too familiar with Cheshire but have a friend here whomb gabe me explicit directions to her house."

"Well, that's all in good but we're not going to her house."

"Ah, look.  See on the map?  The place is so huge, you can't miss it.  If we take this route, it goes right by the area?  See, right there?"  She sniffled a little but grinned widely.

"Yeah, I see it."  Don didn't sound thrilled.  He wanted to find it, not her.

"Good job, Lucy.  The bus it is then.  Let's just hope we're not too late."

"You say that so often, Leo."  Raph mumbled.

"I still have some money, guys.  Jewel's going to owe me big time."   She looked to each of them.  "That is, if I see her."

I sat in a bathroom stall, seeing that tall brunette waiting for me right outside.  If I got away from those bumbling idiots, I shouldn't have trouble with this broad.  Just at the right time when her back is
to me, I can make my move.

"Are you about done in there?  You're taking far too long."

"Ah, last night's dinner didn't sit well with me.  I'm still getting over some nausea too."  I had to think of something!

Her back was finally turned to look at the door.  Perfect.  Picking up the small white trash can to throw feminine pads away, I slowly crept up behind her.  Right when she turned to me, BOOM!  I
smacked her as hard as I could with the box.  Her body flew backwards and smacked up against the tile wall.

"I think I'm starting to feel better."  I mumbled.  Followed by a sneeze.  Nope.  I was wrong.

Placing the can down, I moved her lifeless body into one of the stalls and propped her up on the toilet.  I removed her lab coat and name tag to somewhat fit in with the crowd.  The tag had her photo
but she was a light-haired brunette.  I might get away with it.  A line of blood dragged the floor from where she fell down.  Her mouth and nose were covered in blood.  Taking a tissue, I cleared the
evidence as best I could, not forgetting to wash my hands.  Opening the door to freedom, I looked around.  No one was nearby.  I started my escape to realize I'd be lost in a matter of minutes.  I had
to get to a phone and call Lucy again.  But as before, I couldn't help her with my current location.

Turns out, I did get a tour!  Though, I had no idea what everything was, I ended up walking around clueless to my surroundings.  Large instruments and machinery brought back vivid memories of my
science class back in high school.  I remember my biology, chemistry, and life-science classes very well.  Walking around, I got a taste of it all.  This was a very operational place.  Very well-known
and very active.  I could see many people at work creating and testing weird things.  Like the Turtles, I kept low even if I was wearing a lab coat and fake ID.  There were other people whom saw me
arrive and would arrest me on the spot.

I walked outside to the front where a line of pay phones greeted my eyes.  Looking left to right, I snatched one up and started dialing, crossing my fingers her batteries haven't died yet.

Lucy's phone blarred her awake.  Caught her sleeping again.  The five were on a bus when I called.  She stirred off of Raph's shoulder and dug into her purse.

"Mm, Jewel?"

"Yes, Lucy!  It's me again!"  My voice cracked though the phone.  The line was breaking up.

"Oh!"  Jewel sat up and waved to the guys.  "Jewel!  God, are you alright?!  Where are you now?"

Good question.

"I'm at the lab.  They got me here but....... my own.  I can't really.......... I want to get out of here!"

"Okay, okay.  We're on our way.  Where are you exactly?"

"It looks like some ..... building.  It reminds me of.....hello?  Lucy?  Are you......there?"

"Jewel, I'm losing you.  My battery is dying.  Quick, where are you?"

"It's a cylinder......over on the......of this maze of a place.  Did........that?"

"No, I got cylinder something.  Cylinder-what?"

"Cylinder building, maybe?"  Don overheard Lucy's conversation.

"Jewel, is it a cylinder-shaped building?"  Lucy looked to Don.  "Yes, it's their chemistry lab."  She pulled away as the phone crackled.  "Hello?  Hello?  Damnit!"

The phone finally went silent.  Lucy shut the lid and groaned to it.

"Jewel's there, but, I don't know how long it'll be till they find her.  She seemed to have ditch the party she was with and is now lost within the area."

"Any uplifting news?"  Raph asked sarcastically.

"Well, the fact that she's on her own means it gives us a little more time to get to her.  I never told you how gutsy she can be when provoked."

"WE KNOW!"  All four spoke out.

Silence passed to allow Lucy to giggle about their reply.  They knew how I was.   Oh, yes.  They did.

"Did she say exactly where this cylinder building thingy was?  Like north side, west side?"  Mike shrugged.

"Ummm, I've seen pictures and that building looks like it's on the west side.  Or south side.  I think.  It depends on the direction you're facing it."

"Maybe southwest?"

"Maybe, Mike.  We should have picked up a map of this place as well."

"The train station's gift shop didn't have a map of the lab.  I already checked."  Don felt he should speak up at that point.

Lucy smiled.

"You've been most helpful, Mr. Map Reader 101.  All you guys have been helpful.  I couldn't have done it without you."

"Don't say thank you, yet, Lucy.  We still haven't rescued Jewel yet."   Leo stated.

"I know.  But incase I don't get to later on, I want to say it now.  I mean, it's for what you've all done so far.  Thank you."

A silent nod was her answer from the four of them.

"Welcome!"  Except for Mike whom felt honored.

Lucy smiled to his grin.

"So, guys, is this your ideal vacation?"  Pointing out the glass window, the lush green hills glowed in the bright sunlight.

"Your country is beautiful, Lucy."  Leo said.  "It's a shame we had to take this trip on business and not pleasure."

"Oh, it can still be pleasure."  Lucy eyed to Raph.  "Depends on how you look at it."

"My task has not been fulfilled yet."

"Leo's all business if you must know."  Raph said to Lucy, noticing her eyeing at him.  "The guy never has fun."  Leo gave a hurt look.   "That I know of, of course."

"I have fun!"  Mike spoke out of turn, feeling the term was directed toward him.

"Too much fun, Mike.  Waaaay too much fun!"  A smiled broaded across Raph's cheeks.  "Let's see.  Mike has fun, Leo's busy making wrongs right, I enjoy pleasure, heh, and Don......"  Everyone
looked to Don last.  His eyes were lowered to the map.  "And Don.   Yeah.  Ummm, well, let's hope they don't right a book about him."

"Did you say something?"  Don looked up to Raph whom waved a hand to forget about it.

"Well, that sounds like you're a jolly good bunch."  Her accent rang out on with the word 'jolly.'  "I wish my siblings were as exciting as your four are."

Mike perked up.  "Siblings?  As in more than one sibling?  As in plural?"

"I didn't know you had more next of kin other than Edward.  Are they brothers or sisters?"  Leonardo was now interested about Lucy's family.

"Oh, I didn't think it mattered to mention her."

"Her?  It's a her?  What's her name?  Is she married?"   Mike was almost falling off the seat.

Raph shoved him back.

"Don't mind him.  He's a little sex-crazed, hasn't been able to tame it for years."

Lucy laughed.  "I don't mind sharing my life with you guys.  And for your questions Mike, yes it's a girl, her name is Emma, and no, she's not married.   How's that?"

"I forgot what I asked."

"Well, she's the baby of the family.  The youngest.  Almost 17 years of age.  Oh, we were rotten kids to her when we little."  The Turtles watched Lucy now with interest as she opened herself up
more to them.  "Edward and I were much closer in age so we would be like the ones in charge of what she can play with.  She would pick up a toy and we snatched it from her.  She then crawled
to another toy, we'd take that one too.  But she was a good baby.  She wouldn't cry at all.  She'd just sit there and stare at you with her big blue eyes."

She caught them all watching her with small grins.

"You were a little terror?"  Raph sounded thrilled.

"I was horrid to my sister.  And when I was a baby, I cried everyday.   Just sat there.  Big mouth with tears streaming down my face."

"Sounds like Raph."  Mike laughed.  "Nothing pleased that guy."

Raph did a fake laugh to Mike's.  "Seeing you getting disciplined made me happy, Mike."

"Does Emma live in England, Lucy?"  Leo switched his leg to the other side.

"Yes, she does.  She still lives at home with Mum and Dad in their estate in Salisbury.  That's why if we go there, you won't be questioning me, 'who's that pretty lady?  The servant?'  It's my little sis."

"She's pretty too?  All you British folk seem that way."

"What way, Mike?"

"Maybe it's the water here.  You women have the creamest skin, smoothest complexion, I dunno.  I just notice a lot of women here are a lot prettier compared to New York."

"You're making me turn red, Mike."

"No, no.  I'm not trying to say it as a compliment."  Lucy's face frowned next.  "Um, unless you want it to be, um-"

"Get the shovels, Leo."  Raph thumbed to Mike whom was digging an early grave.

"What are you trying to say, Mike?"  Lucy placed a hand on top of his.   "You've gotten this far, and our stop is coming up so make it quick."

"Ut.......God, you women are just gorgeous."

Lucy's eyes flared wide as the bus halted.  Mike jumped up first to head for the door.  The others followed behind him.  Lucy almost looked tearful to Leo.

"Was he kidding?  Did he.....d-did he....just say-"

"Yes, he did Lucy."  Leo ushered her out the exit.  "And if I know Mike by now, he meant every word of it."

A light drizzle sent me back into the warm building.  Why I was going in other than to keep warm was a question I couldn't answer.  I was still very ill from being out in the rain.  Damn Stuart had my
medication with him.  Fat lot of help it did him.  I was the one suffering here.   And not just with the cold.  Had I kept looking forward, I would have seen out the window the Turtles and Lucy getting
out at the bus stop about 100 feet away.  But my back was turned, and I headed further into the area.  Did they have a soda fountain here?

Oops.  What's this?  Some men were approaching me.  One pointed in my direction.  Oh, dear.  My heart started to race as I turned away and casually walked like nothing happened.  I over heard
them say, "Is that her?"  "Yes, go.  Go get her."

Shit!  I started a fast pace, looking back.  They were moving fast, too!   I started to run faster in an attempt to lose them in one of the offices.   Reaching an outdoor greenhouse, I started to shriek for
help to anyone who heard me.  I kept screaming and running, dodging little flower beds.  Tripping on an overgrown vine, I skidded and tumbled forward.  Eww.   Blood ended up on the white cement
floor.  I felt my teeth then my nose.  Blood was on my fingers.  Well, I got a payback after slamming that brunette in the face.  I felt hands lift me up onto my feet.

"You alright?  You took quite a stumble."

I looked to see it was those guys that were chasing me!  Why were they behaving like they didn't know me?

"I-  I'm fine.  Just a broken nose."  My nose hurt to the touch.

"We've been looking all over for you, Janice.  Come, let's get you cleaned up."

Janice?  That must have been the brunette's name.  Ha, ha!  I fooled them.

"Janice?"  One man came closer from out of nowhere.   "What-"  He looked harder at me.  "She's not Janice."

I didn't fool them.

"Is that you, Jewel?  Jewel Cranston?"  The guy knew my maiden name.  Scary.

"Have we met?"  I played dumb.

"No, but I've seen pictures.  And there's no mistaking your identity.   You've grown a lot but it's you."

"How do you know me?"

The guy looked to the others.

"Has she seen the boss yet?"  They weren't sure and said nothing.   "I think you'd be interested in meeting with our boss, Jewel.  Come follow, me."

"No, he wants me dead.  If you know anything about my past, you'll let me go."

"Don't be silly.  You really don't have a choice here, anyway.  You're an unauthorized individual wearing fake I.D.  Either you come willingly or we hand cuff you."

Hoboy.  That didn't leave me much of a choice.  And the last thing I'd want to be is handcuffed.  My answer was a nod and I followed this new person with the others behind me.

Again we walked through a maze of rooms, I got another insight of the place.   Wonderful.  Exquisite.  Harmful.  Deadly.  No going back.   Doomed forever.  God, someone help me!

"Here we are, Jewel."  The guy stopped at a large, black door.   "He'll be most please to see you."

"Yippee."

"Aren't you excited?"

"Why should I be?"

"I guess you don't know who the boss is, do you?"

"Should I?"

The guy said nothing but opened the door and pushed me forward.  I was standing in a large science laboratory.  Specimens were in tiny glass jars.  His back was turned to me but he looked
oddly familiar.  I gupled and started to move, feeling the guy making me take each step slowly.

"Mr. Langford, you have a visitor."

"Leave us."

The guy bowed and shut the door behind me.  Mr. Langford turned toward me with a wide grin.  His face was screaming 'mad scientist.'

"Hello, Jewel."  His voice uttered to me.

Oh, God.  Oh, dear sweet God.  It couldn't be.  I could only mutter one word.

"Daddy?"

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