So it Begins
By Gillian Taylor

Small shudders rippled down the woman's back as she held her head in unvoiced agony. Something was happening to her, something that was not normal...something that she did not understand. Why her? What had she done?

'Miller...' the word was a thought in her mind, a word full of hatred directed towards the woman who's name it was. In a second she remembered who she was, what had happened to her and her fellow Genetech Corp scientists. She remembered Miller's mind ripping through her own, leaving behind a weak-willed slave to her bidding. She remembered something puncturing the back of her neck, the feel of an indescribable SOMETHING pouring inside of her. But most of all, she remembered the pain of her existence stuck behind massive walls that Miller had erected.

'Help me...' the mental cry went unheard as Trisha Hawkins collapsed to the floor, writhing as something began to rip through her body. 

"HELP!" she was able to voice, though her voice was rougher than it should have been, rough with pain and with something else. She was changing, she could see it in the strange ripples that ran down her body, the flashes of color that appeared and disappeared on her skin. 

Through her pain-fogged brain, she could hear footsteps heading her way, but they did not approach her. They did not attempt to help her, and through her squinted gaze she could see that instead they stood far enough away from her to avoid her writhing. 

Shear agony lanced through her body, stiffening it in response as she released a scream of pure pain. And before the eyes of the white-clad observers, Trisha's body began to shudder as first one, then two, then more 'legs' protruded from her back and sides. Trisha's face rippled as well into something insect-like before it disappeared behind something vaguely human, but obviously no longer Trisha.

"We have another one, sir," one of the white clad men spoke into the air.

"Destroy it. Immediately. It cannot escape," another voice responded from midair, coming harshly from the speakers.

Several white coats raised weapons from their sides and aimed them towards the being that once was Trisha Hawkins.

The room was filled with metallic thunder.


*****
Department of Defense
Level D
Sub Basement

Click. Click. Click. The sound of his heels hitting the floor echoed through the featureless hallways of the Pentagon, the sound of some small comfort to Lt. Cmdr. James Osborne. It wasn't often that he was summoned to this particular section of the Pentagon, though his security clearance granted him access to both the D "Red" level and the O "Orange" level. 

He tapped the door marked 'Paul Jamison - OPSEC' with five short raps. The door swung open silently, however he did not see anyone beyond the door. It was a common enough practice for military or otherwise personnel to enjoy secrecy, so he walked into the room.

"Commander, have a seat," a disembodied voice spoke from somewhere above him, "We have several images that we believe you would be interested in. There is a file to your right containing all pertinent information to the identity of the woman on the screen."

James sat down, pulling the mentioned folder towards him. 

The voice continued, and a series of images appeared on a screen set at the head of the table, "What you are seeing is the location of the Dawn Project. This is one of the project managers, Dr. Trisha Hawkins. Two days ago, Dr. Hawkins was declared deceased; no explanations were given to her family members other than a lab accident occurred resulting in her death. And this is the focus of the Dawn Project, genetic engineering. There are certain forces in the government that wish to see this project stopped at all costs and we suspect that these forces might have had a hand in the deaths of Dr. Hawkins, Dr. Kessler, and Geneticist Marianne O'Reilly."

"Where do I fit in this?" James asked, studying the portfolio images of the victims.

"We want you to go to the Genetech Corporation Headquarters and try to glean as much information from them as you can. Find out how the victims were killed. If you can find out who caused these murders and bring the information back to us, we will be able to correct the error."

It sounded easy enough to Osborne. He had done such 'information gathering' before, albeit in more wild areas than Seattle Washington. But he knew there had to be a catch. There always was one, no matter the case.

"However, there is a complication." 

'Here we go,' he thought.

"Detective Karen Bishop has been assigned to the case. She has a reputation for not letting go before she has enough information to either make a conviction or close the case. It will also be your job to...baby-sit Detective Bishop and make sure that she does not find out the details of the Dawn Project OR find the murderers before you do. If necessary, use her to the best of your ability. However, if she does find out details about the Dawn Project, it will be your job to take care of it."

Baby-sitting punk cops was not his idea of a good time, however James did not speak his thoughts out loud. He was a military man, first and fore most. He would complete his duty, following his orders as best he could. This Detective Bishop might be good. 

But he was better.

*****
Genetech Corporation
Seattle, Washington

The wind whipped her long coat around her long legs, but besides an increased difficulty in walking, the wind did not bother Detective Karen Bishop. No partner accompanied her, and for that small blessing she thanked the Lord. She was infamous in the Seattle PD for not being able to retain a partner for long. Her ideas and her methods were unconventional to say the least, and the way that she could crawl into the minds of Seattle's most dreaded criminals was the envy of most of the force. 

She was a loner, and it didn't bother her not to have company. She didn't need them if they would slow her down. The case was all that mattered. 

Karen brushed back an errant strand of blonde hair before she walked up the front steps of the Genetech Corporation. Chief Wilkens had ordered her to find out as much as she could from the 'damn scientist type corporates' before she continued further in the investigation of Dr. Hawkins' death. The night before she had spread pictures of the deceased, of Genetech's building, and one of the scene of Hawkins' death. The latter disturbed her, something was wrong with the way the body was leaning, the way that the woman actually looked in death that had nothing to do with rigor mortis. She shook herself once before opening the double doors into Genetech.

"May I help you?" a voice asked immediately, originating from the reception desk situated in the center of the large room.

Karen pulled out her badge and ID and flashed them at the guard/receptionist, "Detective Karen Bishop. I would like to speak to someone about Dr. Trisha Hawkins."

"Do you have an appointment?"

She was about to put the badge away, but pulled it back out, "Perhaps you missed this the first time around. I would like to speak with someone about Dr. Hawkins."

The guard was about to respond when someone began to speak from behind her, "Detective Bishop, I am Paul Simmons, Genetech's Chief of Security."

Karen turned to face the new arrival, summing up his appearance with a quick look. Paul Simmons was taller than her 5'10" frame, and bulkier. In her mother's terms, Simmons was the quintessential poster boy for a 'good old boy.' She caught herself mentally undressing him, "Mr. Simmons, I would like to speak with someone about Dr. Hawkins."

"Of course," Simmons returned easily, "I will take you to meet some of Trisha's colleagues."

Karen nodded and followed him away from the reception desk and into a mirrored elevator, "Did you know Dr. Hawkins well?" she asked him by way of conversation.

"We all did," he responded, sorrow clouding his eyes as well as something that appeared to be regret and guilt, "She was my girlfriend..."

"I'm sorry," Karen said, meaning the words. However, she filed away the appearance of Paul Simmons when he mentioned Hawkins for later.

"Its ok, it was just so shocking," Paul said honestly, "I never expected..." he shook his head, unable to continue.

"No one ever expects someone to die, especially when that person dies so violently."

"No," he said hollowly, "You never do."

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a well furnished waiting area, complete with magazines and a small television set. "Detective, if you would wait here for a moment, I will see if I can get everyone together in one place."

"Of course," Karen responded, taking a seat near the television. 

Paul entered a set of glass doors and disappeared from her view, and Karen soon found herself dwelling once again on the reasons for, why, and how someone had ripped Trisha Hawkins from Simmons' life. Something told her that there was more than meets the eye to Trisha's death, and to Genetech.

****
Genetech Corporation Lobby
Seattle, Washington

James Osborne walked into the lobby, his head held high. The guard did not comment when he walked past him into the main part of the building, he knew military when he saw it even though he did not know whom Osborne worked for. Military was military. He had his own orders as to who could enter Genetech.

Osborne passed several offices as he ventured deeper into Genetech, but he did not stop at any of them until he reached the offices of the Chief of Security, Paul Simmons. Paul was not in the office when he arrived, but there was a note on the door, 'Bishop is here.'

"Shit," James muttered under his breath, he had pinpointed Simmons as a possible weak link...if he talked to Bishop before he got to him...

He hurried towards the elevator.

****

Karen thumbed through one of the many magazines on the table next to her, though her mind was not on the glossy photos or text. In her mind's eye she could still see Trisha's contorted body in grisly black and white. Somehow, black and white photos always increased the gore of death in her mind. What she didn't see in color, she could fill in with her imagination. Sometimes, she even dreamt in black and white.

"Detective Bishop?" Paul asked from the doorway, "We're ready for you."

Karen put the magazine aside and began to follow Paul through the glass doors when the elevator doors opened behind her. The sharp click, click of men's heels on the marble floor intrigued her almost as much as the look on Paul's face. His expression ranged from shock to fear to something else in the space of a heartbeat.

She turned around to face someone only slightly taller than she, but with such a sense of power about him it was as if he were at least four feet taller than she. With one glance at him, she sized him up, his suit and tie combination tasteful on his well-built form. Where Simmons was brawn and muscle, this man was well-wrought steel.

"Mr. Simmons, I am Special Agent Joseph Osborne," James said, flashing an FBI badge at both him and Bishop, "I need to speak with you about the death of Dr. Trisha Hawkins."

Simmons shook himself before responding, "Agent Osborne, I was not notified that you were here."

"I called this morning," he said, "Perhaps you did not receive my message."

Paul shook his head, "I did not. However, I have assembled people who knew Trisha well to speak with Detective Bishop here. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you joined her."

Karen looked once at Paul then back at Osborne, she didn't want him with her when she questioned the Genetech employees. "Detective Karen Bishop, Seattle PD. I wasn't notified that the FBI was interested in this case."

The FBI Agent turned impossibly blue eyes to meet her muted grey ones, "Trisha Hawkins was a Federal witness in a case that I was investigating. Without her testimony, the case cannot pull through. I came here as soon as I learned of her death."

Karen suppressed an instinctual shiver under his regard and nodded, she could at least allow him to be with her during the testimony as a gesture of respect to a fellow law enforcement official. "I'm sorry, Agent Osborne. I don't mind his being with me during the testimony."

Osborne flashed her a small smile before looking back at Simmons.

"This way," Paul said with a sigh, leading the two down the hallway.

Paul led Karen and 'Joseph' into a large conference room, where a number of scientist and manager-looking individuals awaited them at the table. "Detective Karen Bishop, Special Agent Ja...Joseph Osborne: Dr. Geordi Burton, Genetic Department Head, Harry Okai, Vice President of the Seattle Division of Genetech, Dr. Leanna Miller, Trisha's Project Head, and Robert Yearwood, Corporate lawyer." Paul said the last as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. From the way that he looked at Yearwood, it appeared that there was no love lost between the two.

Karen picked up on Paul's hesitation in saying Osborne's first name and an inkling of suspicion wormed its way through her mind. Was this man who he said he was? She watched her companion from under slightly hooded eyes as they were introduced to Trisha's co-workers. 

"Before we begin," Yearwood said, focusing on both Osborn and Bishop, "I want each of you to sign these non-disclosure statements. Anything that we work on, or say, within these walls cannot be shared with any other corporation or companion without your being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, this does not include any information, of course, about Trisha or her death." The lawyer pulled out first one, then two, sets of paper an pushed them towards Karen and James.

Mentally, Karen sighed. She never had any use for corporate secrets, nor their policies on attempting to prevent her from using all of her capabilities to solve a case. 'Damn bureaucrats,' she thought, but she did sign the documents after scanning them.

Beside her, James rolled his eyes at Yearwood and signed his 'name.' He had done this many times before, but he still didn't care for lawyers in general, Yearwood in particular. 

Harry Okai spoke in a strong voice, almost surprising in his intensity coming from such a small man, "Detective, Agent, Genetech has lost a much loved individual from our ranks and for all of our sakes, may I request that you do not ask too many upsetting questions while you are with us. Trisha's death was quite a blow to many projects."

"Mr. Okai, I am here to find the truth about Trisha's murder. Please rest assured that I will find the person or persons responsible for her death," Karen said.

'No, Ms. Bishop, I'm afraid that you WON'T find them...not before I do.' Osborne thought, though he kept silent.

"Dr. Miller, since you worked the closest with the deceased, did you see anything different about her actions over the few days before her death? Was she edgy, concerned about something, paranoid?"

Miller focused her gaze on Karen, and if she had found Osborne's regard to be disturbing, this woman's look was enough to be unnerving. "No, Trisha was her usual bubbly self. The only strange thing that I noticed was her increased intake of carbonated beverages."

'Ok...I didn't think that anyone other than Data on Star Trek talked like that,' Karen thought, "What about her work? Did her work appear different at all?"

"No, it was to its usual standards."

"Her appearance?"

"Impeccable."

"Anything that struck you as different about her?"

"No."

Karen sighed, 'I wonder if she's usually this open, or if she's going for an Oscar.' "Do you know of anyone who holds a grudge against her?"

"No. I only know that the group that she used to get together with on Fridays would tease her about her card game. She was well liked in the labs."

"Dr. Miller," Osborne spoke for the first time, "Did you consider Trisha a friend?" 

Miller turned towards Osborne, "I considered her a co-worker and a subordinate."

"Can you think of anyone that would have wanted her dead?" James asked.

"No."

Karen mentally rolled her eyes. Dr. Miller was impossible. "What type of project do you work on?"

"Classified," Leanna responded.

"Could anything in the work itself have...led to her death?" Karen asked. Around the table, she could see some minor stiffening, especially from Simmons.

"Not that I know of," Miller responded with a shrug.

"Dr. Miller, may I call on you later if I have further questions?" Karen asked with a sigh.

"Yes. But I must return to my Project. Trisha's absence has doubled the workload on the rest of us," Miller spoke as if Trisha's death were the deceased's fault, her version of getting out of work.

Osborne looked quickly at Karen before returning to Leanna; "I'll call on you later if I have any questions too, Doctor. Dismissed."

Leanna Miller left the room at a pace not fast enough to be called hurrying, but quickly enough to be called determined. Karen could only hope that the others would be more helpful than Dr. Miller was.

"I must apologize for Leanna's behavior. Though she seems rather abrupt, she is just as horrified and sad at Trisha's loss," Geordi Burton spoke softly, "I didn't note anything strange about Trisha's behavior over the past week, or at our card game Friday night. She was herself. There was nothing, NOTHING, different about her." Geordi shook his head sadly, "I still can't believe she's gone."

"I'm sorry, Dr. Burton."

"Call me Geordi," Burton interrupted.

"...Geordi, do you know of anyone that might have been tempted to resort to murdering Trisha?"

"Not that I can think of. But if I think of anything, I'll call you."

"Can you tell me anything about the Project that Trisha was working on?"

"I'm afraid that the rules of confidentiality govern me in this case, Detective," Geordi said, honestly sorry that he couldn't tell her more, "I can't tell you anything."

Karen suppressed a sigh of frustration. "Was there any rivalry between Dr. Miller and Trisha?"

Geordi sighed, "There was some. Leanna was convinced that Trisha wanted her job and that I would remove her from the Project so Trisha would take over. Leanna is brilliant, but Trisha...Trisha was a genius. Did you know that she won several awards for her work? Leanna hasn't won any awards. But I seriously doubt that Leanna would be pressed to attack, let alone kill, Trisha. Leanna's a scientist; she has always had the option of requesting Trisha to be replaced. But Trisha was too invaluable to the project for her to let her go."

Mentally, Karen chalked up Miller's tally for the possibility of murder, "Where was Leanna when Trisha was killed?"

Harry Okai spoke up, his face reddening slightly, "With me. We...we were..."

"You are having a sexual relationship with Leanna Miller?"

Harry nodded, looking down at his folded hands and not meeting the shocked gaze of Geordi and Yearwood.

'Damn, motive but not the timing.' Karen thought with a sigh. 

Osborne watched Karen almost physically change her presence when she started speaking to Harry Okai. 'Impressive,' he thought beside himself. She was a first rate interrogator. He would speak to some of these people again, especially Geordi Burton, but without Karen Bishop. However, he would have to speak with her to see if she had learned of anything else. It would be useful if he could use her as an extension of himself to gather information. She just would not be able to connect the pieces.

"We've been together for over a month," Harry continued mutely, still staring at his hands.

"In that time, has Leanna spoken of any feelings of jealousy directed towards Trisha?" 

Harry shook his head, "No...not that I remember." 

"What was your relationship with Trisha?"

"She was a friend, and my subordinate," Harry said with a shrug.

Karen nodded, "I'll call you if I have further questions."

Harry nodded, "I will be out of town over the next couple of days, however I'll be back by Friday."

"I would appreciate it if you don't leave town, Mr. Okai. I need you available for further questioning," Karen said.

"I'll cancel my trip, then." Harry said with a sigh. He was looking forward to Bermuda. 

"Thank you, Mr. Okai. I have no further questions. Agent?" Karen said, turning towards James.

He shook his head, "I have no questions other than those you have already asked."

"All right, Agent, Detective, if you would come with me, I'll direct you out," Paul said from behind them.

"Thank you," James told them, "Please keep yourselves available for further questioning."

Paul gestured towards the door, "This way."

Karen ended up walking beside 'Joseph', but her gaze was not on him, instead it was focusing inward on her thoughts after the interviews. Geordi Burton struck her as being the most open of all of them, and the one that would be most likely to give her information other than Paul Simmons. 

"Detective, would you mind joining me for dinner? Call it a business chat," James asked.

She started, jerking out of her inner thoughts. She blinked at him once before answering, "No, I wouldn't mind at all. Anyplace you have in mind?"

"I hear that O'Kelly's has some great steaks and beer," James responded.

She flashed him a smile, "Alright. Any time in particular?"

"How about right now? I don't have to report back to Washington until this evening," Osborne said.

Karen nodded, "That works." 'And now I can find out just WHAT he's doing on my turf, in my city, and on my case.'

****
Karen's Apartment
Seattle Washington

She tossed her keys onto the kitchen table as she flipped on the light, a sigh of mixed frustration and confusion escaping her lips. Though Joseph Osborne's company was pleasant, his lips were sealed tighter than Fort Knox when it came to some of his past and on the case that he was working on.

'I can't talk about it,' was all that he would say. She shook her head as she put water in a kettle for tea. His entire presence in Seattle was confusing. Sure, he said that Trisha Hawkins was a witness for some federal case, but WHAT case? What could Trisha have known that would be that important to the FBI? 'What if he's NOT FBI, Karen?' her mental voice asked matter-of-factly.

That idea pulled her up short, what if he wasn't FBI? Who could he work for? CIA? NSA? FDA? DoD? USAF? USN? Or some other ridiculously non-descriptive acronym? What would their interest be in this case?

In a flash, her mind went towards the idea of the Project that Trisha was working on. What if something associated with it or someone, decided that it had to be stopped? From her discussions with Trisha's co-workers, it appeared that she was one of the driving forces of this project. What if someone wanted it stopped?

She had to find out what this project was all about, and she knew just who to call. She headed towards her phone, and dialed the familiar number.

A half-sleepy sounding voice answered the phone, "Yeah, Stewart."

"Stew, its Karen."

"YO! Karen, you need to come over for some cards," her old friend responded. Moe Stewart, the local crime data analyst and one of her best friends from college, was a definite enigma, even to her. He wore his hair long and completely refused to wear a suit and tie to work, or even a lab coat. Instead, he wore a ratty jeans and T-shirt combination that drove Chief Wilkens up the wall. However, even the Chief had to recognize that 'Stew' was definitely good, if not the best, at what he did. 

"Maybe sometime later," Karen responded, "Stew, can I ask you a favor?"

"Shoot, Karen, I NEED some excitement in my life. Old Wilk-man just gave me some really boring stuff to work on and I'm pretty much fallin' asleep here. Whatcha need?"

"Find out anything you can about Trisha Hawkins, Genetech Corporation, and Dr. Leanna Miller," she said.

"How much information? Simple or deluxe model?"

"DEFINITELY deluxe, Stew. I need ALL the information that you can get." Karen said, emphasizing the first word.

"You got it Karen. When do you need it by?" Mo asked.

"As soon as you can, Stew. And while you're at it...see if you can find anything on the name Joseph Osborne."

"Who's that, Karen? Your new boyfriend?" Stewart teased.

"No, just someone who might be more than he seems."

"Ooh, I'm intrigued. You got it, hon. I'll get the goods to ya by Thursday."

"Thanks, *Moe,*" she responded.

"Hey! What did I tell you about callin' me Moe? I ain't one of the Stooges!" Stewart responded, even though his parents did name him after the character from that group.

"Nyuch nyuch nyuch."

"You're mean."

"You know it, Stew. Thanks a lot."

"Not a problem. Like I said before, I need a challenge."

"Talk to you later then. Maybe I'll come over later this week."

"That'd be great, Karen," Stewart said happily, "See ya then!"

"Bye."

From across town, James Osborne cursed under his breath. Now he would have to make sure that Moe Stewart didn't get any information about him OR the Project. He pressed the stop button and sighed, maybe this Bishop character was just as good as she seemed.

****
1 AM

Karen awoke to the sound of her phone and she cursed under her breath at the interruption of her slumber. Reaching over the pillows for the cordless, she pulled it to her ear, "Hello?"

"Meet me at Pier Twenty-Two, 2 AM. I have information for you," a muffled voice said, as if from a large distance away. Before Karen could respond, she heard the click of disconnection.

She sighed as she rolled herself out of bed and began to strip out of her nightclothes in favor of jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket. Sliding her holster over her shoulder and clipping her badge to her belt she smoothed her hair into some semblance of order before heading for her car. 

Thirty minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot off of the piers and shut off her engine. After double-checking that her gun was loaded and the safety strap was off, she headed down the main dock for Pier 22.

"Detective Bishop," Paul Simmons said softly from the shadows of the Pier's nameplate. Karen looked at him, unsurprised, as he continued, "I...I wanted to tell you that there have been other murders. Dr. Gene Kessler and Geneticist Marianne O'Reilly were the others. I was told to cover it up, but I just...It's gone on too long, ok? Trisha's dead, and its all my fault that we didn't come to you sooner."

"How did they die?" Karen asked him.

"Weirdest shit I've ever seen," Paul responded, looking warily over his shoulders, "The bodies...they were almost RIPPED apart by something. I don't know what. But some of it did look like someone had taken a machine gun to the bodies, I don't know." He shook his head, "I don't understand it."

"How're they all related?"

"The Dawn Project," he responded, "They were all on it. Gene was the first to die, then Marianne...and then Trisha." A sob escaped his control, "Shit, they're going to kill me once they learn I've talked to you."

"Who? Who's going to kill you?" Karen asked.

"Genetech, or else their contractor. I'm not supposed to talk, but I can't sit still and watch more innocent people die."

Karen rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry, Paul. You've done the right thing."

"Have I?" he asked miserably, and for that she had no answer. 

The next thing that she heard was a popping sound. The next thing that she saw was a spreading strain of red on Paul's chest. Her gun was in her hand and she was on the ground in the space of a heartbeat. Paul moaned on the ground beside her as she swept the area, her eyes squinting in the darkness for any sign of movement. However, there was nothing there. There was a single shot, and then it was as if the sniper had disappeared.

Paul choked on his blood beside her, and Karen quickly ripped off part of her shirt to try and stop the flow of blood. However, from her basic first aid training and from her ten years on the Force, she could tell that this was a fatal gunshot wound. 'Shit, shit, shit,' her mind chanted, and she leaned in on the wound, but if it was possible, the blood seemed to pool out of his body even faster. She couldn't let go of her gun, nor could she just let Paul bleed to death without trying to help him.

His head rolled towards her, his face a grotesque mockery of what it once was with blood tracking strange designs down the sides of his face, "Fi...find who did...did this. A...avenge Trisha. Pro...promise me." His eyes were deadly serious, and she could tell that this request was all that was keeping him from death.

"I promise, Paul. I'll find the bastard that did this to you, and to Trisha. I swear it," Karen said emphatically, but when she looked again, Simmons' eyes only stared lifelessly at her.

With a steady hand, she closed his eyes for the last time, a single tear dropping out of her eye for his sacrifice in favor of saving innocent lives. Now he was the next innocent to die, and she would be damned if she would let anyone else follow him.

****
Pier 22, Elsewhere

James had just entered Bravo Command when the sniper had taken out Paul. 'No!' he thought, knowing without a doubt that taking down Paul Simmons in front of Karen Bishop was completely stupid. Before the crouched man could shoot again, James was on him, his hands wrestling away the gun before hitting him across the cheek, "Asshole! What the hell are you doing?"

"Sir," the Seal choked out, "Orders to take down Simmons and anyone that was with him."

"Not her!" James said, "And most especially not in FRONT of her! Where the hell were you trained? Get the target ISOLATED before you decide to take them down! That's basic training!"

The Seal's eyes flashed, "Sir, I also have orders to take down Karen Bishop. Is that not her?"

James' eyes widened, 'Shit!' He didn't want her shot; she was a decent person, an excellent Detective, and a beautiful woman. He made a mental note to attach himself to her hip until he could get the orders reversed. "Why wasn't I told?"

"Plausible deniability, sir," a second Seal said from behind him, "Let us complete our mission."

"Not tonight, you are all under orders NOT to follow her OR to shoot her until I get these orders straightened out," James responded firmly.

"Yes, sir." The Seals chorused, and James left Bravo Command to head for his car. He knew that Bravo Command would change locations within a few minutes before the cops arrived. The Seals wouldn't try anything else tonight. Or else none of the Seals would be alive in the morning. He would see to it.

****
Chief Wilkens' Office
Seattle PD
3AM

"What the HELL is going on here, Bishop?" Wilkens shouted, "I send you on a case and within twenty four hours a body disappears AND one of the main witnesses is shot IN YOUR COMPANY!"

Karen tuned out the first part of Wilkens' tirade, knowing that all that he was doing was letting off steam. It was as characteristic to him as her reputation on the job was to her. However, she was brought back to attention when he mentioned the body, "Trisha's body disappeared?"

"Yes! The coroner was slated to perform the autopsy last night, and when he went to get the body it was gone. Damnit, Karen, what kind of shit have you gotten yourself into?" Wilkens asked.

"I don't know, Chief. It's deep. Deeper than I expected."

"Take a partner, Karen. Please," Wilkens asked.

"Sir, you know I don't work well with them. Besides, I don't want to have to worry about the life of another officer while I'm out there. Let me be the only target here," Karen responded.

"You can't go on blaming yourself for Gerry's death, Karen," he said softly.

"Why not? Why the hell not? It was my fault that he got shot!" It had been five years since the day that she held Gerry Anderson in her arms, his life's blood staining her suit as she attempted to both save his life and kill the man that had shot her partner. Part of her knew that it wasn't her fault that Gerry turned the corner too fast, not her fault that the suspect panicked and shot her partner, not her fault that the ambulance arrived too late to save him. However, the rest of her knew that if she had been one second faster, she could have saved him.

"Karen," Wilkens said softly, shaking his head, "Please, just take someone out with you. It'll make me feel better."

"I can't..." Karen responded, begging him with her eyes to just let her do this on her own.

Wilkens sighed, "Alright, Karen. For now. But if anything happens..."

"I know, Chief, I know," Karen responded.

"Get out of here, and find me a killer."

"Yes, sir!" she responded, and left his office. It was three in the morning, but she doubted that she'd be able to get any more sleep that night. She went out into the chilly spring air, pulling her jacket more firmly around her slender form. With a sigh she climbed into her car and started the engine. She would go home, but she knew that sleep wouldn't come for her now.

***
Karen's Apartment
9AM

Instead of the ringing of the telephone, Karen was pulled out of half slumber by pounding on her door. Surprised that she had actually fallen asleep, though admittedly on her couch, she walked to the door. She looked through the peephole and sighed, it was Agent Osborne. Karen opened the door a crack, "Can I help you, Agent?"

"I heard that Paul Simmons was murdered last night in your presence. I just wanted to ask...did you get any information from him?"

Karen sighed, "Just a minute," and closed the door so she could slide off the security chain. She opened it again and gestured for him to come inside, "Come on in, would you like some coffee? I'm going to get some started now."

"Sure," James responded, looking around the room for further insight into the character of Karen Bishop. The living room was tastefully decorated to bring in as much light as possible, making it appear much larger than it actually was. He wandered towards the mantel, his eyes scanning the pictures of what he could only assume was Karen's mother and father, perhaps a sibling, and someone who he assumed must have been Karen's partner. He knew a lot about Karen's past, including the death of her partner and Karen's subsequent recklessness until her Chief took her aside and talked to her. He shook his head silently, before turning back towards the kitchen door through which she had disappeared.

"He called me late last night, telling me that he had something to tell me," Karen said as she walked into the room with two steaming mugs.

"What?"

"He told me that there have been other murders. I checked up on them earlier, and sure enough there were two deaths on the Genetech Corporation property. However, they were ruled as suicide. This is the first time that anyone had contacted the police about it."

James lifted an eyebrow as he took a sip of the scalding brown liquid, "Do you know how these people are related?" 'Please say you don't,' James thought, he seriously didn't want to have to remove any knowledge of the Dawn Project from her, or allow the Seals to kill her.

"No," Karen lied.

"Damn, I was thinking that Geordi Burton might be the best person to ask now that Paul's dead. Would you want to come with me while I go to talk to him?" James offered, 'And so I can keep an eye on you?'

"I have some details that I need to work out before I go back to Genetech. Go on, I'll join you there later. Perhaps we can have an information exchange?"

"Of course," Osborne promised, finishing his cup of coffee. "I'll see you there, Detective."

"Karen, please," she responded automatically.

"Alright, Karen. And I'm Joe," he said, as he headed towards the door.

She smiled at him as he walked out, closing the door behind him and locking it. She needed to call Stew.

Karen dialed the familiar numbers again and waited for her friend to pick up.

"Hello, Stewart."

"Stew, its Karen."

"Shit, Karen, I've been trying to contact you," Stewart said quickly, "What type of shit are you into?"

"What do you mean?"

"I found a link between Genetech, Trisha Hawkins, Leanna Miller, AND a Dr. Gene Kessler and Marianne O'Reilly. But there's more, it all leads to the US government, specifically the military. It's called the Dawn Project. They're doing heavy shit, Karen. Genetic experimentation. But that's not what I needed to tell you about."

"What?"

"Its your pal, 'Joseph' Osborne. Well, hon, that's not his real name. I checked with the FBI. There is a Joseph Osborne working for them, but get this: he's an accountant that's never been outside of DC in his life. I even talked to him. A rather brainy guy, dull, but he certainly doesn't seem like the type the FBI would send out here, does he? I checked with Interpol and with the other law enforcement agencies in the States and haven't been able to find a thing. So, I played a hunch. What if he was military? That would explain why he's there if he's not with the FBI. So, the closest that I was able to come up with is a Lt. Cmdr. James Osborne in the Marine Corp, and this guy is a ghost. He can get in just about anywhere, security clearances up the kazoos AND he has commendations overflowing out of his file. This guy's VERY good at what he does. I can't get access to any of his personal files, nor his current station, they've so much security around this guy that it's a miracle that I even got this much."

"Shit," Karen muttered under her breath. She didn't need to hear that her original hunch was right. 

"But Karen, there's also something else. I found a set of orders directed at Seal Team One, 'take out subjects one and two, pawn and king, docks.' I almost think that those orders were directed for you."

"Great," Karen responded mutely. 

"Karen, be careful. There's some HEAVY shit coming down on you, and I don't want you hurt, ok?" Stewart said anxiously.

"I'll be fine, Stew, but thanks."

"Talk to you later, hon. Tell me how it goes."

"Will do, bye," Karen hung up the phone with a heavy heart. Once again it seemed as if she was being strung along for an idiot. 

She had to get to Genetech.

****
Genetech Corporation
Main Lobby

Karen walked through the main lobby quickly, her heels clicking sharply on the floor. Gene used to call the expression that she wore on her face her 'Get the hell out my way or else I will chew you up, spit you out, and step all over you' look. 

"Do you have an appointment?" a new guard asked from the front desk.

"Detective Bishop," she said, flashing her badge, "I need to speak with Geordi Burton."

Surprisingly, the guard let her continue after giving her directions to Burton's office. A feeling of dread began to pool in her stomach. What if she was too late? She half-walked-half-ran to Burton's office, but instead of finding Burton she found Osborne seated behind his desk holding a stack of files emblazoned 'Dawn Project-Top Secret.' 

Her eyes narrowed when she saw him seated behind Burton's desk. He HAD to have killed Burton, he was military, and he lied to her. 'Bastard,' she thought before speaking, "Hello, Lt. Commander James Osborne," Karen said icily, "Did you kill Geordi Burton as well so you could keep your pretty project protected?" 

James started and turned towards her, somehow he wasn't surprised that she knew his real name, "I didn't kill anyone."

"Bull shit!" she spat, "If not you, then someone under your command! Why did you kill Paul Simmons?"

"I told you, Karen, I didn't."

Her eyes narrowed as she repeated her question, "Why?"

James sighed; he was beginning to feel like a broken record, "I told you, Karen. I didn't kill him. I wish he were still alive so I could ask him some questions of my own, but whoever took him out was not under my command. I was able to stop them from shooting you, Karen. But I wasn't able to get there before they killed Paul."

"You bastard," Karen said, her eyes flashing.

"Please Karen, I'm here for the same reason you are. I want to find out who killed Trisha, and bring them to justice."

"Bull shit! You just want to take them out just like you did with Paul!"

"Karen, calm down," James said placatingly, "I'm not going to take them down. I want them in jail. I want them brought to justice! There have been murders here! We can both do our jobs together."

She sighed, but nodded. She was still pissed off at him, she still wanted to strangle him, but she could work with him until they found out who killed the scientists, "Who do you think did it?"

"I'm leaning towards Dr. Miller, or even Dr. Burton," James said.

"Miller's up there on my list too," Karen responded, "But I don't think that Geordi Burton could have killed Trisha. I didn't see any remorse or regret in his eyes when we talked with him. He seems like the type that would honestly regret killing someone, if he would ever even do so."

James was about to respond when he silenced himself, his gaze directed behind Karen.

"What the hell are you two doing in here? Where's Geordi?" Miller demanded, though the way that she asked about Geordi struck Karen as hollow.

"Perhaps you can tell us that, Dr. Miller," James said.

"I don't understand," Miller said.

"I think you do, Doctor," Karen joined in, "Did Geordi suspect you? Did he know too much of what was going on here? Did you decide that he had to be killed to protect yourself?"

Shock, anger, desperation, and finally a primal rage crossed Miller's face, "I killed no one."

"You've already confessed," James said.

"Oh I have, have I?" she asked with a triumphant smile. Karen shivered when she saw that look, it was almost as if she were staring into the face of pure evil.

To both James and Karen's astonishment, Geordi Burton appeared beside Leanna. "Hello Detective Bishop. Hello Agent Osborne. How are you?" 

Karen looked carefully at Geordi, and it almost seemed as if he wasn't entirely in control of his mental facilities...it didn't sound like the man that they had interviewed only a day before. "Geordi, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm..." he paused for a moment, as if he were fighting something. Beside him, Leanna touched his arm, and he continued with a confident, "I'm fine." 

"If you two would excuse me," Miller said, and without waiting for their response, she left the doorway.

Geordi Burton entered the room, and paused by his desk, pointedly waiting for James to give up his seat. Osborne sighed, and stood, still carrying the stacks of Dawn Project notes. "Geordi, we wanted to talk with you about Dr. Miller and the Dawn Project."

"Wha...what?" he asked dreamily, it almost seemed that the further away from Leanna Miller he was, the less control he had.

"Geordi?" Karen asked gently, walking towards him.

Suddenly, Geordi's body stiffened in pain, a muffled cry of agony escaping his lips. 

"Shit!" Karen cried, trying to get to him. It had to be the onslaught of a grand mal seizure; she knew the signs all too well: her younger sister had had epilepsy, "James, see if you can find any Tegeterol or Demerol. We need anti-convulsion medication!"

"No, Karen! Get away from him!" James said, seeing something from his side of the desk that drove a nail of pure fear through his chest. He ran towards Karen, holding her back from Burton's convulsing body.

Small cries of pain emerged from Geordi's lips as first one, then two *legs* emerged from his back. "MILLER!" the word was a scream of hatred, of pure terror at what was happening to him, and an identification of his 'murderer.' Within seconds, Geordi's eyes grew lifeless as an insectoid *thing* began to crawl out of his body.

Karen and James held out their weapons, aiming it towards the thing as it separated itself from Geordi's body. Its head was oversized, its eyes multi-faceted as it leveled an unearthly stare towards them. Its mandibles clacked together as it began to walk towards them.

First James, then Karen, opened fire. The thing jerked with each impact, but it kept coming towards them.

"COME ON!" James yelled, grabbing Karen's arm as he dragged her out of the room, "RUN!"

They charged down the hallway, the clickety-clack of insectoid legs chasing behind them. 

****
Dawn Project Labs

The thing that was once known as Leanna Miller smiled toothlessly as she felt her spawn hatch, its young mind already searching for its mother. With a sigh, she released her human form in favor of her stronger, more agile, insectile appearance. Her mandibles clacked with pleasure as she felt the fear of the two humans who dared search for her. Her young was hungry, and James Osborne would be a fitting first meal. However, for Karen, she had other plans. She would become another hatchery for her young. Let her experience the pain/pleasure of birth.

Let her die.

***
Genetech Hallway

Karen pulled James into a lab, slamming and locking the door behind them as she searched for another weapon. She had only a single bullet left in her gun, even though she did have another clip. It appeared as if conventional weaponry wouldn't work against whatever that THING was. However, she didn't see another exit, "What the hell is that thing?" 

"I think it's the Dawn Project's creation," James said, as he too searched the room for another weapon.

"What the hell were they doing?"

"Playing God," James responded.

She shook her head as she opened various drawers and cabinets in her search. "Here!" Karen called triumphantly as she opened a cabinet full of chemicals, "I don't know about you, but not much stuff I know of can survive being hit with sulphuric acid." 

Rhythmic pounding on the door punctuated their need for haste. Karen grabbed a couple of bottles of the strong acid, handing some to James. "I don't know if this is going to work, but we don't have much choice here."

The door began to crack and moan under the pressure, and Karen and James shared a look of mutual fear and desperate hope. They dropped behind one of the cabinets for cover.

With a scream of protest, the door broke and the thing entered into the lab. Its multi-faceted eyes searched the room for its prey's heat signature. Its mother did not want the woman thing to be killed, but she wanted the male. His body would be tender, fleshy, and warm. Its mandibles clacked with hunger.

"Now!" Karen whispered to James, and as one they stood, tossing a bottle each of Sulphuric acid. They both ducked behind the cabinet as the bottles broke, spraying the deadly acid around the creature. James and Karen looked at each other, frightened that they had missed, when an alien scream and hiss echoed through the lab.

When silence returned, they looked carefully around the lab; the only indication of the creature's presence was a single mandible jerking on the floor next to a pool of green. 

Karen and James carefully walked around the remains, clasping the jars of acid to their chests, "I think it worked."

"I think you're right," James responded, flashing her a grin, "Lets go for 'Mama Miller."

Karen smiled ferally at him and gestured towards the door, "Lets go."

***
Dawn Project Labs

'Leanna' could hear/feel the two humans heading towards her. If she had had a mouth in the normal sense, she would have smiled. She knew that they had killed her young, and for that she would rip Osborne apart...and then she would implant Karen Bishop. 

Osborne held his gun before him, sweeping the area as they made their way towards the Dawn Project labs. Behind him, Karen carried the last few bottles of sulphuric acid. They had agreed that he would try shooting Miller so she could get a better aim for the sulphuric acid. He only hoped that their plan would work.

"JAMES!" Karen shouted from behind him as an insectile arm reached around the corner to grab him, pulling him around the wall.

"GERRY!" she screamed, her mind replacing James with her long lost partner. Karen hurried towards the corner, watching the corner for any other 'arms.' Seeing nothing, she turned the corner and saw James hanging from his foot some ten feet from the floor. Behind him, she saw a much larger version of the creature that they had just killed, but its face was a grotesque version of Leanna Miller's. A flush of hatred crept up her face as she attempted to find a way to get the sulphuric acid onto the creature and NOT onto James.

"Shall I tell you why?" a hissing voice emerged from behind James, a strange mockery of the human tone.

"I will take over this petty corporation, and then...then I will take over the world."

Karen scoffed, "There have been many people that have tried to take over the world. None of them have succeeded. Nor will you."

"Wrong. Those were *people.* I am not people any more. I am more than you, food. I will use you as a hatchery, Karen Bishop. Through you, I will give birth to my children. Together, we WILL take over this corporation and your pathetic Seattle Police Department."

"Over my dead body," Karen hissed.

"No, over his," the creature shook James and he moaned, "Tell me, Karen. How does it feel to see another die at your hands? How does it feel to have another partner die because of you?"

Karen's eyes widened in shock, "Wha...what?"

"I've studied you, Karen...I know you. Gerry Anderson, or James Osborne? What does it matter? Its still your fault for their deaths."

"NO!"

The creature seemed to smile at her, "Yes. And from this day until the first of my young burst from your delicate body, eating their way through your internal organs, you will know. In the end, it was all your fault."

"Karen," James whispered, turning his gaze towards her, "It won't be your fault. Stop her, Karen. Kill her. You can do it. It doesn't matter about me."

"SILENCE!" the creature screamed at him, shaking his body violently.

"NO!" Karen screamed, opening the two bottles of acid. She ran towards the creature and tossed the acid into its face.

A scream of alien agony echoed through the room as James was tossed away from the flailing creature. Specks of acid ate through her clothing as she ran towards James, her body beginning to burn as one of the specks found its way to her skin. She ripped off her shirt, abandoning the material to protect James from the writhing creature. She stared at it as its torso began to melt.

It was over.

******
One Week Later

"Hey Karen," James rasped as he walked towards the shorter woman, his throat still affected by his broken bones and bruised muscles.

"Hey James!" Karen said, smiling at him as she turned from the view of the harbor, "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was beaten up by an insectoid creature from hell. Other than that, I'm feeling much better," James joked.

"I'm glad, I was worried there," she confessed as her mind flashed back to the horrifying minutes after Miller's death. James had stopped breathing, and the EMPs found her still using CPR to resuscitate him.

"I'm stubborn," James shrugged, wincing as the gesture moved his sling enough to jar his arm, "Karen, you know it wasn't your fault..."

"Yeah, yeah I do," Karen said, her face appearing years younger in the twilight, "I asked the Chief for a new partner."

"That's great!" Osborne told her, "You'll do great, Karen."

"Thanks. So what are you doing out of the hospital?"

James' happy expression faded, "I wanted to tell you what I found in that stack of papers from the Dawn Project."

"Oh?"

"I wanted to know what the hell happened to change Leanna Miller into...whatever the hell she became. The only thing that I could find was that the material they decided use had the serial numbers 3326-554889," he explained.

Karen looked at him, confused, "What does that mean?"

"The 3326 prefix indicates extraterrestrial materials."

Karen's eyes widened, "You telling me that we were fighting against ET?"

"No, but we were fighting against something not of this world."

Bishop shivered in the warm Seattle air as her gaze was drawn upwards, "Do you think it's really over?"

"I hope so, Karen. I really do," James said softly. Above them, the stars twinkled in their everlasting night.

****
Pentagon
Sub Level F
S Level Clearance Required

"Leanna Miller has been destroyed, sir," an expressionless officer stated.

"Good. How are Project Bases 2 and 3 operating?" a bodiless voice spoke from the darkness, the flare from a cigarette the only indication of his presence.

"They have had much progress. They are expecting production within the month."

"Excellent," the cigarette flared again, "And Detective Bishop and Lt. Cmdr. Osborne?"

"They do not know of Bases 2 and 3, nor will they ever. The orders to kill Karen Bishop have been revoked, but there will always be surveillance on her."

"Make sure she finds nothing out."

"Yes sir."

"Dismissed."

The officer turned smartly to leave the room, his heels clicking on the concrete. In the darkness, the man smiled as his body was covered in smoke, his mandibles clacking in rhythm to the officer's heels.