Generation 2, Chapter 17 - Aliens Among Us Part 2

 

Away From the Sun

 



 

Adam groaned as he came to, someone was tapping him lightly on the face trying to wake him up. Squinting up he looked into a pair of concerned green eyes. "Wh ... where am I?" he asked trying to sit up.

"We're in a holding cell on an alien ship," the man told him.

"Ship? An alien ship?" Adam repeated trying to wrap his mind around the idea He watched as the man with the green eyes nodded his head

The man stuck his hand out "I'm William." Adam shook his hand  "Adam."

"Wish I could say it's a pleasure but I'd rather be anywhere but here," William said standing up. "I'd suggest you walk around a bit It'll help clear your head."

Looking down Adam mumbled "I .... I can't walk."

"Here I'll help you," William bent down to help him up.

"No you don't understand," Adam said trying to shake his hands off. "I really can't walk."

"Ah kid I'm sorry," William knelt down and helped him lean against the wall. "It's going to be rough I'm not going to lie to you, worse in your condition." William said as he looked grimly around the small cell they had been thrown in. "It's not luxury accommodations that's for sure. I'm surprised we're not in the laboratory being operated on."

"Lab? Operation? What are they going to do to us?" Adam asked as his voice cracked.

William turned to him, trying to come up with something to calm him. "I'm an old pro at this. This is my third time, so the bright side is we'll eventually go home. The downside," he shrugged "when that will be is anyone's guess."

"You're the guy who had the hybrid child, aren't you?" Adam asked peering intently at him. "I read the articles in my father's science journals. My dad wanted to meet you but he wasn't one of the scientists chosen to interview you. They thought he would be biased since he was a father and wouldn't be able to ask the tough questions. He was furious at how things were handled."

"I wonder ... " William began but was cut off when several aliens entered the cell. Adam cringed against William when he recognized the man from the hospital. He heard William take in a sharp breath, curious he turned to look at him closer, he noticed his complexion had become a chalky white as the blood drained from his face and his eyes seemed to radiate hate. He heard William mumble "God I can't believe it's him."

"William my old patient we meet again," the man said staring down at them.

Patient? Adam turned to William confused "Do you know this guy?"

William was staring transfixed into the man's dark eyes. His blood was pulsing through his body and his heart was pounding in his ears as he stared into the eyes of the doctor from Aurora Skies. Without thinking he jumped up and launched himself at the man, screaming "You killed my daughter." The other aliens quickly stepped in and subdued William before he had a chance to attack the man. William struggled within their grasp as the man continued to stare at him.

"I merely provided the means of her demise," William screamed incoherently, unfazed the man continued "you really should learn to control your emotions, after all she's in a better place now. Isn't that what your species believe? You should be relieved William, the experiment was a success; otherwise we would have continued and who knows how many more of your children would have been sacrificed until we were satisfied with the results."

"That was all an experiment, why?" William asked overcome with guilt knowing his little princess died because of this man, these aliens but mostly because of him. His heart felt like it was going to burst from the weight of the world lying upon it.

"Your ability to sense things before they happen. We had to test this peculiar side effect. I engineered that little accident your son had."

"He almost died." William nearly choked on his words.

"Hmmm yes. Fortunately for us he did not. But if he had, we still had other progeny to choose from."

"Leave my children alone," William yelled desperate to free himself so he could wrap his hands around his neck.

The man smirked at him "Your children are ours to do with as we please. If it weren't for us, neither you or your children would exist. We abducted your mother, corrected her infertility, gave her the child she always wanted. You are the result of that first experiment, you are ours as are your children." Turning to the aliens holding William "apply the collar, I tire of his insolence. Once that is done pick up that creature and follow me, the scientists are anxious to begin."

As William followed behind the aliens carrying Adam, he realized the collar exerted control over his movements. He couldn't make an independent move that wasn't approved by the collar. When they entered the lab, William wanted to run, to scream, be anywhere but there. This room was in every one of his nightmares, where awful things happened. He watched helplessly as the aliens strapped Adam to a cold, metal table. Unable to move, to scream was worse than struggling uselessly to escape, he could only watch and comply to the commands of these aliens.

Adam struggled best he could to no avail, in the end he was strapped to the table. His voice hoarse from yelling, he wondered how William was able to stand calmly by and watch while they did this to him. Looking over towards him, he noticed the strained look on his face and the pleading look in his eyes and Adam wondered if it was the collar they put on him that prevented him from acting. Adam's analytical mind recorded everything in his surroundings in an attempt to remember everything to tell his father. He knew his dad would be able to figure out what the aliens were doing, if anyone could, he would, Adam was confidant of that.

Adam's attention was diverted to the new aliens approaching him.  One of them asked "The specimen has been given the serum?"

"Yes as ordered by the leader."

"All in one dose?" the man nodded the alien turned back to observe Adam saying "the specimen will be under a lot of stress and pain." Looking up at the man he said "it may expire before the experiment is complete."

"There is another to take its place." the man replied unconcerned.

"If there was another, than why bring me this defective one?"

"The other was inaccessible." Adam looked at the man and wondered if he was referring to his brother. He was thankful Brian had listened to him and gone back to college, removing him from harms way, at least for now.

"Very well. You connect the electrodes to the specimens brain." the alien directed his assistant. "We will record the pain levels until it expires."

"The pheromones the other specimen has been exuding it's mate must have been in overdrive."

"Or gone mad with sexual desire" turning to the man "Have you notice any behavior changes in the specimens mate?"

"Yes there has been changes in both her sexual drive and personality. The stronger the pheromones have become the worse she's become."

"Explain the changes."

"She was a caring, loving mother now she barely tolerates her children. She prefers to believe her husband is the one who has lost his mind rather than herself. As her sexual appetite has grown she has sought relations with other men producing at least one child that is not the specimens. Continued contact with the specimen will surely result in insanity."

"Exactly as we feared would happen. We have narrowed the cause of our infertility to this pheromone. If we can figure how the pheromone causes the insanity than we can control the effects."

"I thought having males produce our future children instead of the females would prevent the pheromones from developing?"

"The pheromones are essential to the breeding process, without them we would not know when another was ready to mate. The volunteers will be monitored closely during their gestation period. The children they produce will be the start of a new generation." Looking sternly at the man "be sure you keep the specimen separated from the volunteers. We don't want any unauthorized breeding with it and mixing our genes with its inferior ones."

As the aliens led William away, Adam yelled after the man "What are you going to do to him?"

"Fascinating the specimen appears to be more concerned with his companion than with himself." Looking down at Adam "It is no concern of yours and soon you will be beyond caring." He gave Adam a look of anticipation that sent chills through him "This is going to hurt, a lot."

 

Adam screamed as the laser cut into his abdominal wall. The restraints restricted him from moving, from trying to get away. The pain left him gasping to breathe. Managing to lift his head enough, he was horrified to see his stomach flayed open. "What? Why?" he gasped.

"Because we can," the alien said hearing him.

In a sort of morbid fascination Adam observed the aliens poke and prod inside him as they began their tedious work of modifying him. He endured as much as he could until his eyes rolled back into his head and he passed out.

"Shall we continue with the modifications?" the assistant asked his superior.

Thinking it over the superior nodded "the specimen has survived this long. We proceed, if it lives we'll have another specimen to impregnate when the other is ready." Continuing with their work, the superior asked his assistant "how is the other specimen doing in the fertilization chamber?"

"Excellent." they continued to work when he asked "None of the participants have had any contact with the specimen?"

"None. The specimen is well guarded. The drones have orders to exterminate anyone attempting to mate with the specimen."

"A logical precaution. It's bad enough we have to rely upon these creatures to solve our reproduction problems, we don't need to complicate things by adding their inferior genes to ours."

"What of the half-bloods that we are creating with these experiments?"

"They are as inferior as the creatures we use to produce them."

"Then why do we impregnate them?"

"For the pheromones. There bodies are unable to produce the ones we need without first having given birth. Even then it takes years before the pheromones are strong enough for them to produce the desire in us to mate. Once we have enough pheromone producing specimens we will be able to harvest them to induce continued breeding and our race will live on."

"Would it not have been wiser to keep our females as the pheromone producers?"

"Perhaps but then the madness would continue. The madness of the females resulted in the genocide of most of the last generation and why we are on the brink of extinction."

After the initial torment of being modified, Adam was left in the tiny cell, while they took William to the fertilization chamber. One evening when William returned Adam noticed his harried, shocked expression, the ugly bruises and the nasty raw skin around his neck where the collar had been.

William collapsed on the floor. Adam dragged himself across the floor to help William up. As he propped him against the wall William muttered "I don't think I can take much more of this."

"They're not ... you know," Adam stumbled over the words but he couldn't help but wonder.

"No," William shouted averting his eyes "they have guards to prevent that." He crossed his arms protectively around himself and rocked gently back and forth.

"Do you think this is what I have to look forward to?" Adam wondered aloud even though he already knew the answer. He knew these aliens had little regard for there specimens. All he had to do was remember how they sliced into him without sympathy for the pain they were causing, even though they doubted he would survive all they were interested in was how much pain he could endure. Evidently quite a lot, he was still here although it was debatable if that was a blessing or not considering what was in his future.

Sitting up straighter William looked at him "I'm afraid this is your future along with my son." Tears from the strain of the past several days or could it be weeks streamed down his face. Adam reached out and held him tight until he cried himself to sleep. Adam had the uneasy feeling that something happened to him that William wasn't sharing. At the moment all he could do was offer what comfort he could and be thankful he wasn't alone.

Adam sat there wondering how long the aliens were going to keep them. How many more aliens were they going to use William to induce breeding. Surely the pheromones were losing there potency. He hoped so for William's sake, he doubted he could take much more.

As Adam sat there he began to have a strange sensation in his legs that steadily progressed to being stabbed by pins and needles. He tried to sit still but the pain was becoming unmanageable.

William stirred beside him "what's wrong?" he asked in concern.

"I don't know," he grimaced in pain "my legs feel like they're on fire with hundreds of fire ants biting me at once." Adam grabbed Williams had and squeezed as the pain intensified.

Yelping in pain as Adam crushed his hand, William held him until he passed out. William looked down at the young man, who was probably no older than his daughter would have been. It was a miracle that Adam had survived what the aliens had done to him, William marveled at his tenacity and will to live. He had to admit if it weren't for Adam, he would have given up long ago. Adam convinced him observe everything around him, what the aliens did, said or looked like in the hopes it would eventually lead them to finding a way to stop them from abducting others in the future. William smiled at Adam's complete faith in his father, a brilliant scientist who would be able to take what they observed and come up with a solution. William wanted to believe that was possible, if not for his sake but for Robert's and Adam's sake and countless others that the aliens were ruthlessly taking.

The 'man' entered their cell and peered down at them as they slept. William opened his eyes and jerked violently bashing the back of his head into the wall. His skin crawled as his stomach churned, he thought he was going to be sick. Swallowing several times, he slowly stood with his back pressed to the wall. Adam grumbled in protest as he woke up. The 'man' bent down and dragged him to his feet. Without thinking William yelled "don't touch him," as he reached out to prevent Adam from falling.

The 'man' stood back, watching a moment as William struggled to support Adam's weight. "Have it your way." Looking directly at William his tone harsh "Heed my warning. Say nothing of what happened either now or in the future. Your life, that boys life and the lives of your children depend upon it."

William opened his mouth to protest. But the look on the 'man's' face deterred him, he nodded his head in acceptance.

"One day you will understand," he looked at William regretting what was done. "It will save both your people and mine." Stepping closer, William pressed himself into the wall, the 'man' whispered into his ear "I'm sorry it had to be this way."

William eyed him confused he asked "why?"

The man stepped back, shrugging "does it matter?" Turning to Adam "I see the serum has finally started to take effect."

Adam looked up at him through his pained induced haze asking "what's happening to me?"

"The serum is correcting the brain damage and your nervous system is receiving it as pain. The damage must have been extensive for it to have taken this long to work." The 'man' looked up and gave William a look of concern as he added "Unfortunately you are about to suffer a great deal more pain. This information was meant for someone else but you share his DNA and can transfer it to him when you are home." Before either of them could react he brought his hand up and pressed a small device to the side of Adam's head. Adam screamed in pain as his brain was overloaded with data.

William tried to pry the man's hand away from Adam as his screams continued, he simply batted William across the cell. When it was done Adam collapsed on the floor. The 'man' turned to William announcing "you'll be going home soon. Warn your young friend not to share the information with anyone except his father. The information is for him and him alone. If the information detects any other DNA profile during transfer, it will self-destruct." He tossed the small device to William "he'll need that to transfer the information." He walked to the cell door, pausing before going through it he said "Good luck."
                     

Generation 2, Chapter 17 - Aliens Among Us Part 1

This is a two part cross over to my other Legacy (Not So Ordinary Life).  My game likes to abduct my Sims and give me alien babies so instead of trying to figure out a new story for the aliens I'm combining the two to elaborate the wide spread menace the aliens have become.  This story takes place around the time of this chapter on Not So Ordinary Life Generation 2, Chapter 14 Part 3.  The story may not always follow actual game play as the story is more important but I do try to incorporate the curves the game gives me, much like life has a tendency to throw curve balls at us.

Chapter One

Over the next few months Adam realized if he focused on things he could do instead of the things he couldn't he wasn't so depressed. Returning to work was difficult; especially all the stares. Most days he could write it off, they hadn't seen him in a wheelchair before, it was out of the ordinary. Other days he wanted to disappear, to have the ground open up and swallow him.

So deep in thought, Adam didn't notice the therapist approach him with a syringe. "Owe, what was that for?" he asked rubbing his arm where she had stuck him. "I thought you were done with the vampire bit. Didn't you say they didn't need anymore blood?"

"Don't be such a baby," the therapist chided. "One more test and that's it, I promise."

Watching her warily he said "I've heard that before. It still hasn't kept you vultures from draining me dry." Adam found himself compelled to look at her. She was really a striking woman, exotic. Her skin tone caught his eyes, it was so unusual and different from how he remembered it. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, why?" she stared back with her large dark eyes that were both alien and captivating at the same time.

Shrugging he stammered "No reason. You just look kinda green, like you weren't feeling well." Adam had the uncomfortable feeling that he has stumbled upon a touchy subject with her. Her eyes seemed to smolder with an unspecified hate radiating towards him. As she turned away, he caught a glimpse of her ears, pointed tips sticking up through her hair. Shivers ran up his spine as he had the sudden urge to run, to escape this room, to get as far away from her as possible. His eyes roamed the room, seeking escape, if he could make it to the door before she could stop him. He was at a disadvantage confined to the wheelchair, she was quicker and unimpaired. Seeing she was distracted, he whipped his chair around and wheeled towards the door as fast as he could.

He was almost there when the chair was jerked backwards and the forward momentum threw him on the floor. She threw the chair aside as she towered above him.

"You shouldn't have tried that," she said as she lifted him from the floor. The door behind them opened and he thought in relief that someone was there to help him.

"What do you think you're doing?" said a harsh angry voice. Adam sighed in relief believing this person would help him. He was unprepared to be thrown like a rag doll across the room. He laid where he fell, crumpled on the floor, gasping for air.

"The specimen was becoming suspicious."

"You haven't kept up with your treatments and have started to revert back to your true form."

True form? Specimen? What the fuck? Adam struggled to comprehend, to make sense of what was happening.

"You have not prepared the specimen for the next stage of the experiment," the man accused.

She shrugged "the specimen is defective. It'll take to long to correct. I grow weary of this form and coddling that creature."

"It is not your place to decide," the man stated harshly. "This specimen has the genetic code we have been looking for. The leaders want this creature to duplicate their first success." Pointing towards Adam he said "This creature is key to our success."

Her eyes snapped angrily at him as she screamed "it's not natural to modify a male specimen to birth children."

"You are deluded with visions of the past. Those days are gone forever. The leaders are evolving our people to new heights." The man brought his hand to his ear, listening to something he spoke to the air.

"The female is delusional and disrupting the experiment. The specimen has not received the serum and still defective." Turning to the woman he demanded "What have you done with the blood samples taken from the creature?"

Giving the man a self satisfied smile she said "The creature is quite tasty." She defiantly picked up the vial of blood she had taken from Adam earlier, she quickly gulped it down, licking her lips when she finished.

Adam felt his stomach lurch as he watched her drink his blood. Desperation seized him as he thought he was spending his final moments amongst these monsters. Not now when he finally accepted his disability and moving forward with his life. Adam watched as the man's face darkened with anger, speaking with the unseen leader.

"She has contaminated herself with it's blood." He paused listening, he nodded once as he calmly reached into his pocket, bringing out a gun. He pointed it at the females head and shot her point blank. Saying to their leader he announced "She has been terminated." Gazing at Adam he asked "What are my orders for the specimen?" As he waited for a response he casually approached Adam, pointing the gun at him.

Adam cringed on the floor, helpless, unable to run, he could only wait for the bullet to finish him off. He closed his eyes, waiting. The man started to speak again to his leader, Adam took a chance to look up, squinting his eyes. "Yes the serum is on the female. It will be administered." He stood over Adam stating "I comply." He stooped down and ruthlessly jabbed a syringe into Adams arm.

"What was that?" Adam asked trying to remain calm but his voice betrayed his fear as it came out in a hoarse whisper "Are you going to kill me, like you did her?" His eyes transfixed on the woman's body.

"She was a traitor and deserved to die. If you weren't vital to continue our experiments you would have already been terminated." Turning towards the woman the man scornfully continued. "She was correct you are a weak, inferior species. You have one redeeming quality, you make excellent lab rats."

"I didn't consent to any experiments." Adam croaked trying to make sense of what was happening.

Laughing harshly the man stated "We don't need your consent. The serum the female was supposed to have given you would have made the next phase of the experiment less painful for you. I have given you the full amount in one shot, maybe you will see results before the ship arrives, most likely not. We are not a cruel people. We are desperate and we will do what we need to do to survive." He walked over to the corpse and fired again and this time the body vanished. Looking pointedly at Adam he continued "if we wanted to eliminate you, it would be as easy as that."

Adam began to crawl towards his wheelchair that laid on it's side a few feet away. He was desperate to put distance between him and this man, person, alien as he could. He was in danger if he stayed here, he had to try to escape, even if it was impossible. The man stood and watched Adam struggle, laughing mirthlessly at his efforts.

"Your species struggle too much, even when you have no hope," he walked over to Adam, seizing him by the throat, he glared into his face. "Why?"

"It's who we are. It's in our nature." Adam struggled weakly in his grasp.

"And those that don't die. That's why you make excellent specimens." he brought Adam close and peered into his eyes. Adam tried to look away, to close his eyes but all his willpower drained away. Adam fell deeper into the trance the alien induced. When Adam passed out the alien dropped him and he crumpled to the floor. Stepping away he spoke "It's done. The specimen will come when called." Listening for a moment he continued "the specimens memory remains in tact. The serum was  administered as directed. The brain defect remains uncorrected. I concur it should not hinder the experiment." A bright light enveloped him and he vanished.

Several hours later Adam opened his eyes with a start. Looking around he realized he was in his room, in his own bed at home. He sighed in relief after thinking he wouldn't survive the afternoon. Something rustled nearby, turning his head he found his Dad sitting in his wheelchair next to the bed.

"Dad? How? What happened?" Adam asked in confusion as he struggled to sit up.

Gently Peter reached out and stilled his efforts. "I received a call from the hospital that you collapsed and the therapist had left you passed out on the floor. I can't believe the incompetent people they have working at that hospital."

Adam smiled at this Dad, always the overprotective parent. "Dad don't blame the hospital, it's not their fault," Adam began but was silenced by his father shushing him. He watched as his Dad closed the door and turned on the small radio on his dresser.

Smiling sheepishly, Peter shrugged "I don't want anyone over hearing our conversation." he went and resumed his position in Adam's wheelchair. "I know things are happening at the hospital that are suspicious. You remember the wide scale alien abductions a couple years ago?"

Adam nodded. He remembered that several people from town had been taken along with hundreds of others from around the world.

"The government informed all science facilities to be on the look out for suspicious behavior or people who didn't look quite right. The aliens are searching for people with a  certain genetic make up and the best way to do that is to infiltrate our medical facilities. That would limit the amount of people they would need to abduct if they have already discovered the ones they need for their experiments." Peter rubbed his face "I should have followed through on my suspicions about that therapist. I had a bad feeling about her." looking at his son "I need you to tell me everything that happened. Don't leave anything out, no matter how insignificant it seems."

Nodding his acceptance, Adam told his Dad everything that happened. Answering the questions that his Dad asked to the best of his ability. The next couple of hours passed and when he was finished he was exhausted. Peter got up, leaving the room to return a few minutes later with a syringe. "I'm sure your tired of people taking blood but I need to figure out what they put into you."

"What do you think they did to me" Adam's voice quivered as he asked the question.

"I don't know but I'm going to find out," Peter tried to sound more confident than he felt. His dismay growing every minute, he feared anything he discovered might be too late. Peter's mind was reeling from knowing aliens had infiltrated the hospital, altering themselves to look like humans. He knew he should inform the authorities but if he did that, than things would be out of his control. He couldn't do that, not when it involved his son. He had to find out what was in that serum the aliens gave Adam and what the effects might be. He would inform the authorities in the morning. There was no other choice, too many other people were in danger. He had the night to discover what he could, after that it would be out of his control. He wondered if he should contact that guy from Barnacle Bay that had been abducted and given birth to a hybrid child. He might be able to answer more of his questions.

Getting up, Peter patted Adam's shoulder "I've got to test this and you need to get some rest."

As Adam watched him go, he wanted to ask him not to go but to stay and hold him until he fell asleep. As he laid in the dark with the days events spinning through his mind, he wondered when the aliens were coming. When would they come and take him?

Adam woke with a jerk, his heart pounding and gasping for air. Adam knew he wasn't going to sleep after that. Restlessly Adam began the tedious struggle to dress himself, hoping that chore would help to distract him from his thoughts. He was overwhelmed with a feeling that something awful was about to happen. He wanted to run to his Dad and be comforted like he did when he was little and had a bad dream. Laughing at himself, he decided to watch some TV for a while.

Adam found himself going past the TV and out the front door. He felt like he was being controlled by someone, no matter what he wanted or did mattered, he kept going forward. His mind was screaming at him to stop but he couldn't. He was at the edge of the yard when he was surrounded by a bright light. Briefly he had the feeling that he was floating than nothing at all.

 
  

Generation 2, Chapter 16 - The Decision

"Get out," Adam shouted at the physical therapist as he dragged himself to the chair. "This is pointless and a huge waste of time."

"It's normal to feel frustrated," the therapist began only to be cut off as Adam hurled something at her. Ducking the flying object that whizzed past her head "You really have to stop throwing things at me."

"Yeah and you need to stop with your empty platitudes. I'm never going to walk again." Adam said staring into space.

"Not with that attitude," the therapist said. "Now lets try this again."

An hour later Adam was lying on his bed, exhausted from dragging is useless legs up and down the bars. The only thing he was accomplishing was a good upper body workout but his legs were completely numb from the waste down. Brain damage the doctors explained from oxygen deprivation from his near death drowning six months ago. He remembered waking up in the hospital, not knowing who he or anyone else was. At first they thought that was the only manifestation of any brain damage and they were positive it would be temporary. At first he couldn't move at all, he was assured it was temporary as his body adjusted, eventually he could sit up and move his arms and hands but after several hours and his legs were still numb he began to become concerned something was wrong.

"Dad?" he asked the guy sitting in the chair beside his bed. He had a hard believing this man was his father, he didn't look old enough but who was he to judge? He didn't even know his own name.

"What is it son?" he said turning towards him attempting to smile despite the fatigue that showed clearly in his face and the bags under his eyes.

"I know the doctors said it would take time but ..." Adam stopped overwhelmed with fear.

"But what son? Peter asked smoothing out imaginary wrinkles in the bed sheets.

"I ... I can't feel my legs. Surely it's been long enough now that I should be able to feel something. But they're completely numb." Adam looked at the man next to him for reassurance and watched his fears mirrored in his face. He got up an raced to the door, yelling for the doctor.

The doctors came and performed one test after another. "Do you feel this? How about now?" "Tell us when you feel something?" Nothing, absolutely nothing. They looked at each, talking so softly that he couldn't hear them, but he knew. He knew he wasn't going to be able to walk but he had to ask "What's wrong with my legs? Why can't I feel anything? Will I be able to walk again?" They looked back at him like so many dazed deer in headlights. Unable or unwilling to answer his questions, he turned to his father, his eyes pleading for answers. Silently Peter shook his head, tears swimming in his eyes and Adam knew he'd never walk again. He had been without oxygen too long effecting the part of the brain that controlled his motor functions. He felt himself going, losing control, he felt his father's arms around him, pulling him close as he began to cry.

His memory loss was only temporary, coming back like a tidal wave four weeks after his drowning. For four weeks he had no memory and relied on others to tell him who he was and who everyone else was around him. There were police guards by the door as he didn't know who could be trusted or who couldn't. He wondered why he needed protection and everyone shied away from the answer. A police man would occasionally come in and ask questions, that he couldn't answer, then leave no more knowledgeable than he was. Then it all came flooding back and the reason for the police being there was no longer a mystery. Someone hated him. Hated him enough to do this to him. Adrenaline shot through his system as he thought the only reason for guards at the door was that his attackers were still out there, waiting for their chance to get at him.

He learned later that his attackers were caught and facing charges of kidnapping, assault and attempted homicide. All three of his attackers had bailed out of the van, aware they were leaving a helpless, bound, gagged and blind folded person behind to drown as the van sank. He would have drowned if it hadn't been for the police officers who risked their lives to dive into the frigid lake and get him out. They performed CPR until the paramedics arrived and were able to resuscitate him along the way to the hospital.

He remembered how sore and bruised his chest had been from the efforts to save his life. He wished he could be more grateful but a part of him wished he had drowned that day. He didn't want to live like this, bound to a wheelchair, dependent upon others and having the knowledge that someone hated him so much they would have let him die. It was just too much.

The months passed and his son celebrated his fifth birthday while he was still in the hospital. He missed his son's first day of school, another mile stone in his son's life. It was bad enough he had to grow up without a mother but now he had to do it without a father as well. He stared at the diploma on his wall, the only thing he had to show for his two years of hard work and sacrifice. And for what? A piece of paper? He had lost the job he had been offered at the science lab because they needed someone right then and gave it to someone else. Another opening may not be available for years. He had no job, his father was raising his son, what was the point of continuing with this facade he called his life?

After another pointless session with the therapist, Adam resisted the urge to lock himself in his room again. Heath had made him promise he wouldn't, that he'd be waiting for him after school. He had time before Heath was due home, but he knew if he went to his room now he wouldn't come out again.  He didn't want to disappoint his son, not this time, not when it was within his ability to do it. Heath asked for so little, Adam sighed as if he was facing an insurmountable task.

He switched on the TV and flipped through the channels stopping on a documentary. Adam found himself intrigued by the program, inspired by the life stories of others who had spinal injuries resulting in paralysis. He listened as they told of their struggles to overcome their depression and to find meaning in their lives again. He wondered if they could do it, why couldn't he? He wanted to be whole again in mind if not in body, he could have a meaningful life despite being in a wheelchair. He didn't have to let the wheelchair define his life, he could still define his own destiny. He only had to want it bad enough and his strongest motivator was his son. He was ready to do this, he was ready to be Heath's father again.

Heath raced into the house, hoping to see his father waiting for him in the living room but doubting he would be. He hated seeing his father so withdrawn and depressed, he wanted his dad back. Heath grinned when he caught sight of him, for once he was clean and dressed. It had been so long since he had seen his dad without his beard, it was almost strange to see him now. "Daddy I knew you'd keep your promise," he beamed.

"I did and I almost look human again." Adam said with a smile. "Come here and give your old man a hug."

Running into his Dad's outstretched arms Heath cried "Daddy I've missed you."

"I've missed you too son," Adam said reveling in the feel of his son's arms around him. "Heath I'm so sorry. I promise things are going to be different."

Heath looked at him quizzically nodding his head "Really?"

"Yes really. Starting today I'm not going to let being in this chair stop me from being your father. I can do things. I can help you with your homework, read to you, play video games together or just talk. How does that sound?"

"It sounds wonderful," Heath said giving him another hug. Pulling away slightly, Heath grinned saying "Or we could play basketball. You know they have teams for guys in wheelchairs."

"That they do. We may have to give that a go someday."

"Good," Heath said laughing as he sat on his fathers lap, opening up his homework.

"Hey are you putting me to work already?" Adam asked winking at him.

"Yep might as well start now."

When Peter walked into the house he could hardly contain his surprise at seeing Adam clean, dressed and shaved helping his son with his homework. He knew his jaw dropped to the floor when Adam looked up and smiled at him. He was never more proud of his son as he was at that moment, after months of worrying that Adam would lose himself completely and spiral into depression he comes home to this transformation. He could cry, he was so happy!

After Adam read Heath a bedtime story, Peter come into to his room to talk. "Son it's been so long since you've done anything other than just exist."

Looking at his Dad Adam asked "Was I really that bad?"

"Yes you were," Peter sighed "I wanted to give you time to adjust to your new circumstances but it seemed the more time went by the more depressed you became."

"To be honest Dad I felt like ending it all," he said staring at the far wall. "I thought about it a lot. I couldn't face living like this for the rest of my life, being a burden on everyone."

"You're not a burden ..."

"Yeah I know but that's how I felt. I've spent hours in this room replaying my life in my head." Gesturing towards the framed degree on the wall he said "I spent two years earning that, losing two years of my son's life and for what? A wall decoration?" He sighed looking at his father he asked "Do you know what I did today?"

"Besides clean yourself up and become a human being again? I don't know."

"I got a job."

"Adam ... you don't need to work."

"I know but I'm tired of feeling worthless. With a job, I'll feel like I'm contributing something. I won't be sitting alone dwelling on things that are better off left in the past. I need to feel useful again. Just sitting here all day doing nothing, I can't do it anymore." Adam looked at his Dad as he said "I called my old boss at Gaming Central and he said I could have my old job back. It's not exactly rocket science but at least it's something I'm good at. I can test the games at home and it's something I can do with Heath. I won't let being in this chair impede me from having a life. I'm going to live and not just exist everyday."

Everyday