The Beast Within Read Free

Ellison said. “Is that a specialty of yours?”
    “Is being a coward yours?” Tony asked. He flicked Ellison’s arm away from Aaron’s neck.
    “You’re a dick,” Ellison said. “Or, is it just that you suck it?”
    Aaron knew by the stillness in the room that everyone was awaiting Tony’s response.
    “Both,” Tony agreed lightly. “And if you actually had one you might be in trouble, sailor.” Tony gave an exaggerated wink, then dismissed Ellison by turning his torso, shuttering him off from Aaron’s sight. He caught Aaron’s eyes, reeled him in and steadied him with his gaze. “Containment has just reported a new entry incident across town. The scene is locked down, waiting for us. You want to take a minute and see your desk, or get out of here?”
    “Out of here.” Aaron tried to force the words into sounding normal, but the last came out with something nearing a growl.
    “My sentiments, exactly.”
    Tony stretched out his arm. Aaron expected another hand to clamp onto his neck. Was it customary in Maryland to steer people around as if they had no means of self-propulsion? Or was it just his unique condition that made them feel as if he should be taken for a walk? Instead of touching him, though, Tony gestured toward the foyer.
    “Let’s get you to op-tech and then we’ll take a drive.”

Chapter Four
    Triggered
    Op-tech turned out to be a fairly large, but spartanly outfitted lab tucked behind the main offices, in the opposite direction of the elevators. In California op-tech had been an entire floor with ten scientists, three engineers, eight mages and an ever-changing parade of assistants and interns. Here, a lone, wiry redhead in a lab coat answered the door buzzer and ushered them back to the requisition desk, past rows of counters overflowing with tools and gadgets.
    “Keep to this side of the line, please,” the tech said as Aaron wandered too close to one of the tables. At the desk, he gave Aaron the briefest of curious glances before pushing a clipboard toward him. “Sign where indicated. I’ll get your field equipment.”
    As Aaron scrawled his name on the sheet, Tony chatted away at the man, eventually wheedling his way past the orange stripe cordoning off the authorized-personnel-only space to better discuss the trigger mechanism on a new floor-mounted mass containment unit. Excited by his design, or lonely from life in a stainless steel isolation tank, the clerk leaped headfirst into Tony’s web, and proceeded to ramble on about his newest combinations of technology and mysticism. Tony encouraged his excitement by asking perfectly timed questions, always punctuated by a winning smile or impressed nod. In less than five minutes, the op-technician was fluttering from item to item, gushing information. Aaron watched with a mixture of amusement and irritation as he loaded the magazine and slid the gun into his new shoulder holster, then hoisted the provided kit bag onto his shoulder.
    “Well, that ought to do it, huh, Aaron?” Tony called out suddenly from across the room.
    “I’ve got everything I need,” he answered, confused.
    “Let me know when that disruptor is ready to field test, Rob,” Tony said as he returned to the front of the counter.
    Aaron felt a hand slip into his pocket. Tony, back at his side and still blathering, gave no hint of awareness of what his own hand was doing as it withdrew. A small object rested against Aaron’s hip. Aaron glanced at his partner, but Tony studiously avoided his observation.
    “I’d love to check out another of your genius inventions,” Tony finished.
    “You got it, hoss,” the scientist answered, a grin splitting his face from ear to ear. “Bring back something big and squishy-explody to test it on.”
    Aaron trailed Tony to the car pool, where the same situation played out all over again. Aaron signed the clipboard as Tony charmed his way into the best car the requisition clerk had on the lot.
    “Do you do this all the