{George}

  I woke up gasping for air and realized that I could breathe without a breathing tube because I was lying on a hospital bed.

  "How are you feeling?" I heard someone say.

  I blinked when I saw Elder Lewis standing in the doorway of my room. "Um… I don't know. I just woke up."

  He sighed and sat down on a chair beside my bedside. "Yeah I know there's been a lot of uncomfortable stuff going on lately. Believe it or not I recently got put in the water tank myself. Uncle 42 just can't help himself. He wants to make the next Agent 36."

  I scoffed. "Why would they put you in a water tank? You're an old man, aren't you supposed to be retiring soon?"

  Elder Lewis snorted. "Yeah I am. But they want me to give the Organization another child and I did. I have a feeling that when they're born they're going to be one of the strongest Enforcers ever in the next generation. I came to visit you because more than likely you'll be working for me once you get done with your training. You should feel honored."

  I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

  "Because there's only a handful of Agents that get picked to be Enforcers. True, there are regular Assassins and they work for different Elders but every Enforcer works for me," Elder Lewis said. "And yes, there Enforcer's who have been raised to do their jobs. Agent 36 is one of them."

  I paused. "But I thought she was raised to be an Agent?"

  He shook his head. "Nope, she was raised to become an Enforcer. But for whatever the reason her former Boss, Mother Terra was against it and some of the Council Members were against it and they blocked me at every turn. I knew it was only a matter of time before she became an Enforcer and she is one and the best in the business. She's at the top of her class at everything she does.

  "Thankfully Queen Amore agreed with me that Agent 36 was to be an Enforcer and lifted the protective order finally."

  "Queen Amore?" I asked.

  "Yup. Queen Amore is the one who has the final say of what goes on. Even if the Council is all for something she can override an order. But most of the time that doesn't happen. She's the type of leader who prefers to be hands off unless she needs to step in. She knows the rules the Organization goes by and she can't really change them. The Council are the ones who make the rules. Queen Amore can decide which rule needs to go or stay. And I'm pretty sure her successor will do the same thing. They'd better or the Council will find a way to keep them in check," Elder Lewis said. "So this time even Queen Amore agreed that you and Agent 36 should be tested on and there's nothing anyone can do about it."

  "So you came here to introduce yourself as my new Boss?" I said.

  "Something like that," Elder Lewis said. "So once your testing is done it'll be official and you'll be working for me."

  He looked over at the doorway and smiled. "Looks like you have visitors. I shall take my leave now."

  After he left Triple X and Branden entered the room. They surprised me by having Junior with them. Junior practically jumped into my lap. "Daddy!"

  "Hey little man," I said. "Are you being good for Triple X and Branden?"

  "Yeah I have!" Junior said. "They've been helping me out with my new ability! I can turn into a cat! Wanna see?"

  I paused. "Say what now?"

  Triple X nodded. "You heard him. He can turn into a cat and it's the same type of cat you can turn into."

  Junior hopped down from my lap and he turned into a Puma Cub.

  I blinked and deadpanned. "So this is going to be a family thing? From what I know of my sister-in-law can turn into a Lioness and her daughter can turn into a Lioness Cub considering she's about the same age as Junior is. And I can turn into a Puma. I used to just be able to just change into a regular house cat at first."

  Triple X laughed, "Yeah Junior's been really excited about showing you what he can do. I don't blame him. You haven't been home for a while because of being tested on."

  Junior hopped back onto my lap while still transformed into a Puma. "You're sick Daddy? Is that why you're in the hospital?"

  Before I could answer, Triple X answered for me. "Yes he's sick but don't worry he'll be able to go home soon, okay?"

  Junior turned back into a human and hugged me. "Okay I miss you Daddy! I just want you to come home soon. So get better so you can come home!"

  "Aww that's so cute!" Branden said. "I still can't get over the fact that you have a mini version of you walking around."

  We visited with each other until visiting hours were almost over and then Uncle 42 showed up just as they were getting ready to leave.

  "Okay, looks like your lab results are pretty good for now. However, there is one more thing that needs to be done before you can rest for the night," Uncle 42 said. He looked over at Triple X and said, "You guys were just leaving right?"

  Triple X nodded while giving Uncle 42 the side eye. "Yes, we were just going."

  Uncle 42 smiled. "Good. Because you guys don't need to see what's coming up next. I just need to get a belly sample from Agent 722 and then he'll be able to rest."

  Triple X's eyes went wide. "What!"

  Uncle 42 rolled his eyes and ushered Triple X out the door before he could say anything else. He turned to me. "You remember getting belly samples done when you were a Lab Rat right?"

  I gasped. "No!"

  A belly sample is taken with one six inch needle and I have no idea why it needs to be so long. Personally, I think Uncle 42 just loves to torture people. Anyway, the belly sample gets taken and then another needle follows but this needle is just a shot that goes into the shoulder. It helps whoever's getting the belly sample sleep afterward.

  "Why don't you do this while I'm asleep?" I asked.

  "Because the samples don't give me what I'm looking for," Uncle 42 answered.

  "And that would be?" I questioned.

  He smirked. "That's for me to know and for you to never find out."

  I narrowed my eyes. "You just love torturing people don't you?"

  He chuckled. "Just be grateful you're not a woman or you'd be getting four needles and not just two."

  I flinched. "Why?"

  He shrugged. "Again for me to know and for you not to. Agent 36 will be waking up sometime soon. Poor thing I wore her out with all that testing. She's sleeping like a log right now."

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  "Is she out of the water tank?" I asked.

  He nodded. "Yes she is."

  He didn't say anything else when three nurses entered the room carrying three different trays with them. One of them had the six inch needle and the other needle that follows it. The third tray had rope on it.

  I gave Uncle 42 a wary look. "What's with the rope?"

  He gave me an evil smile. "Ah, yes, that. It's because Agents just love to fight me no matter how many times I tell them to stay still. As a matter of fact, we'll start with the rope first."

  Two of the nurses held me down while they tied my wrists down with the rope. I tried not to fight them but I couldn't help it. You'd fight them too if you saw a big ass six inch needle that was going to go in your belly. Once that was done Uncle 42 grabbed the needle and angled it towards my belly. When the needle pierced my flesh I started screaming every single curse word at him that I could think of.

  He chuckled as he slowly put the needle in my belly. "That's it. Keep the insults coming, it'll help deal with the pain."

  "Fuck you you crazy psychopath!" I shouted.

  He laughed. "Yes. Yes I am."

  When he finished with the belly sample I don't really remember getting the other shot in my shoulder because I was in so much pain. After the shot I drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  {Triple X}

  As soon as I heard George screaming curses at Uncle 42 because of the belly sample I wanted to puke. Junior stopped walking and looked back towards George's room when he heard him screaming. "Why's Daddy screaming so much?"

  I went to the waiting room and sat Junior down on the chair next to me. I sighed. "Junior, you know that sometimes when people get seriously sick they have to go to the hospital right?"

  Junior nodded. "Yeah I know. That's why Daddy's here."

  I nodded slowly. "Exactly. And sometimes the treatment for whatever illness is happening can be painful." I stood up from the chair that I was sitting on and made sure to get down to Junior's eye level. "And make sure you never repeat the words that your Father is screaming right now. People only say those words when they're being rude or impolite. Never say those words around adults because not only is it rude, it's disrespectful and you'll get disciplined for it if you do. Got it?"

  Junior nodded. "Yes Mr. Triple, I will not say the words that Daddy said."

  Branden snickered and I gave him a sideways look and he stopped laughing.

  "Good. Now you run along with Mr. Branden, I need to go check something before I go home," I said.

  Branden raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

  Before I could say anything Levi Harriman, Agent 36's husband walked into the waiting room and he didn't look happy at all. He had a little girl with him who looked like a smaller version of Agent 36.

  I approached him. "Mr. Harriman?"

  Levi nodded slowly. "Yes? Who are you?"

  "I'm Triple X, leader of the Reds congregation and one of your brother's partners," I said.

  He looked surprised. "Oh, so George has more than one partner? I mean, I knew he liked someone but wow he's got game."

  I gave a small chuckle. "Yeah I guess you could say that."

  Before Levi could respond the little girl next to him pulled on his pant leg. She looked up at him. "Daddy, I'm hungry and I want to go see Mommy again."

  Levi looked down. "It's okay Zoey. We'll go home and get something to eat and see Mommy again tomorrow."

  Zoey frowned. "Really? When will she come home? She's always gone."

  I felt kind of sorry for the kid. I know what it feels like to have your parents gone all the time because they're Agents and out on a mission. There was a short silence and it was broken when the ground started to shake.

  Levi's eyes went wide. "Oh crap! That's Eve! Come on Zoey let's go!"

  Levi grabbed Zoey and picked her up as he walked as fast he could towards Agent 36's room. Out of curiosity I followed them. I heard Agent 36 had something called Demon Power and if it's out of control it can level a building.

  I saw a handful of doctors and nurses running towards Agent 36's room and that's when I heard the screaming. "GET OFF ME! GO TO HELL!"

  I paused when I saw her struggling against the doctors and nurses holding her down. Levi held Zoey in his arms and Zoey looked away.

  "Daddy," Zoey said. "I want to leave. I can't stand seeing Mommy hurt."

  Levi sighed. "Yes, let's go."

  He turned around and walked the other direction away from Agent 36's room. He walked right past me without so much of a glance and I could only assume that he wasn't paying attention because he had his daughter with him.

  I sighed and I also left and headed home.

  ***

  {Eve}

  The next time I opened my eyes I woke up in a cold sweat as I remembered what happened before I fell asleep.

  "The belly sample," I muttered to myself. "I hate that."

  I went to move my hand and I found that I was chained to the bed. Levi had been sitting next to me nodding off. As soon as I moved his eyes shot open. "Eve, how are you feeling baby?"

  "Thirsty," I said. "And I feel like I got hit by a bus."

  "Oh, yeah you've had a pretty hard week with all the testing and stuff going on," Levi said. "According to your doctor who's name is Uncle 42 (that's a weird name to have) he's wanting to see how many abilities you will gain from the testing."

  I scoffed. "Go figure. He's probably going for another record."

  "And apparently George is now dating two people. One of them is a congregation leader," Levi said.

  "What!" I said. "No way."

  Levi nodded. "Oh yeah and that Branden guy was there in the waiting room with him so I'm assuming that's the other guy George is dating. I also found out from Dad that George's ex-girlfriend May dumped his child on him. More like she traded the child for money and gave the kid to George. And get this, May named George's child after him. George Junior."

  My eyes went wide. I couldn't begin to fathom a mother trading her own child for money.

  "Yeah I know," Levi said. "But it seems like the kid's doing well. He's smart just like Zoey is. And he can turn into a cat as well. He can turn into a Puma."

  "How are you able to find out this information?" I asked.

  "I keep tabs on George at his job just like I keep tabs on you," Levi said. "I have my ways. But my resources for that can only go so far unfortunately."

  "I see," I said. "You know what I hate the most about testing?"

  "What?" Levi said.

  "That stupid belly sample. I swear Uncle 42 just likes to torture people," I growled.

  Levi nodded. "Agreed. Oh, Zoey should be coming here with Mom and Dad soon."

  Right on cue Zoey came into the room and practically jumped into my lap. "Mommy!"

  "Zoey, take it easy, You're Mom just woke up," Levi cautioned.

  I giggled. "It's fine Levi. She hasn't seen me in a while so of course she's excited."

  Mom laughed. "Yeah she couldn't stop talking about how she couldn't wait to see you again."

  "We would've come sooner but we went to see George earlier. Apparently, he has a kid now. And here I thought May was a cheater. Guess I was wrong on that one. But the fact that she handed the kid over to George in exchange for money just says something about her character," Dad said.

  "Oh yeah, Mommy guess what?" Zoey said.

  "What?" I responded.

  "I meant my cousin who is Uncle George's son and he can turn into a cat too!" Zoey cheered.

  My jaw dropped. Of course I forgot about any child that gets handed over to the Organization gets tested on. That's what May didn't realize that by handing the kid over to George and being an Agent she pretty much handed the kid over to the Organization.

  I deadpanned. "I wonder if this is going to be a family thing?"

  Dad titled his head. "What do you mean by that?"

  I sighed. "I just recently developed the ability to turn into a Lioness, Zoey can turn into a Lioness, last time I checked Goerge can turn into a cat and now his son can turn into a cat and apparently both of my parents had the ability to turn into cats too! What type of cat can George turn into, Levi do you know?"

  "I know," Dad said. "And he can turn into a Puma. At first he could only turn into a regular house cat but now it's a Puma and his son can turn into a Puma as well. George told us about that."

  "I see," I said.

  There was a short silence when someone broke it by saying, "Well as much as I hate to interrupt this little family get together. I just wanted to tell Agent 36 that her test results turned out just fine and she'll be able to go home after she eats something."

  I looked at the doorway to see Uncle 42 standing there. However when Zoey heard that I could go home she perked up. "Really? Mommy can go home today?" Then she narrowed her eyes. "You're not going to hurt her anymore?"

  "For the moment no," Uncle 42 said. He gave her an evil smirk. "I know needles aren't fun to deal with but a necessary evil when it comes down to testing."

  You asshole! I thought as I grit my teeth.

  "It's okay Zoey," Mom said. "Sometimes when someone goes to the doctor the doctor has to do things that aren't pleasant to help people feel better."

  "But Mommy's doctor is evil!" Zoey said. "Yesterday he put a big needle in her belly and it looked like it hurt."

  Dad frowned and looked at Uncle 42. Uncle 42 just shrugged. "It's all a part of the testing my dear. And we'll be unchaining Agent 36 from the bed soon after she is served her lunch."

  Uncle 42 didn't say anything else when he turned around and left.