Lest you become one

After Greg had left, Logan fabricated a story that he was going on a business trip to set up another club in Maryland. He broke the news to Chelsea, who didn't take it too well.

"We have more than enough work to keep us busy and enough money to live comfortable." Chelsea argued.

"Chels, I don't like being the bad guy. Let me go, talk to Greg, and get a feel for everything. I won't start any projects without your blessing. Scouts honor." Logan ended his plea with a three fingered salute.

"You weren't ever a scout, stupid."

"I'll take that as a 'yes'."

Chelsea rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine. No girls though."

Logan gasped in mock surprise. "Madam you wound me."

Logan spent the remainder of the night packing for a 3 day trip, as well as packing his meat into his wife and girlfriend. By 8 in the morning he was pulling out of the driveway and headed north. After getting out of town he set his GPS to the nearest overnight parking garage. Once there he paid for 3 days off parking and started the journey to his actual destination.

Fracture's active camouflage kept him concealed as he bounded north in a near perfect line. Logan found that the most effective means of travel to be either jumping or catapulting himself into the air. Once airborne he could glide by flattening the skin from his wrists, down his sides, and to his ankles. He couldn't technically fly but he watched as he streaked over vehicles, trees, and buildings.

The only downside to the speed he traveled was the semi frequent stops he had to make for food. Still, he managed to arrive in New York in just over 6 hours. Once in the city he stopped to search Greg's stolen memories. From there he moved to within walking distance of Zenith Corp's main office.

Logan dropped unseen into one of the many alleys and assumed the identity of the recently deceased Greg Edwards. Fracture's ability to copy someone else's form didn't stop at appearance. Logan could feel his stride adjust, his shoulders turn, and all the other nuances that would make him indistinguishable from Greg. Logan walked through the threshold of Zenith with the confidence of a man that had worked there for 13 years, 8 months, and 249 days.

"Hey Brittany, how you been?"

"Hi Greg, where ya headed to?" the receptionist answered in a heavy New York accent.

"Gotta see a man about a horse." Logan replied as he placed his hand on the check in tablet. After a second, the tablet gave an affirming chirp and soft green glow.

"Good luck mistah Edwards."

Logan didn't reply or look back. He raised his left arm up to show a peace sign and continued his walk towards the elevator that had opened up. Once inside he typed in a number pattern on the elevator pad.

7762323

The elevator dinged and began it's decent. He took the time to contemplate on what he wanted to accomplish. He knew he just wanted to be left alone, but how to do it was the real question. **** everyone? Subjugate? Perhaps sabotage their records and network so that his information gets lost. His contemplation was cut short as the elevator halted abruptly and warning bells went off from inside Greg's memories.

*(Something is wrong.)*

Soon after, a voice filled the silence of the elevator. "Good evening Mr. Edwards."

"McCallister! You scared the bejesus out of me man." Logan called out, perfectly copying Greg's voice.

"I apologize. However, due to recent developments in the Rampert case, we have had to apply new decontamination techniques."

"Well that sounds-" Logan's words were abruptly cut off as a fine spray of bleach water came from the elevator's ceiling. His skin hissed and smoked as he gasped in surprised pain. Before he could attempt an escape, his body seized up as an electrical current ripped through him. Another gas filled the elevator and both Logan and Fracture slumped to the floor ****.

Chance quickly moved Logan to a containment device of his own design. It was a 15 by 20 foot cell with a small bed directly in the center. First Logan was strapped tightly to the bed with a net that covered his entire body in sensors for monitoring. Next the tank was filled with an oxygen rich liquid and a vacuum was applied so that the pressure inside would remain constant and could be easily monitored for changes. The container itself was pressure sensitive and would apply a debilitating electrical shock to the liquid for any movement that caused the pressure inside to exceed a requirement for breathing. The tank would be monitored by guards that rotated out every 5 minutes. Their entire purpose was to watch the monitors for that brief time and were authorized to apply either electricity or bleach to prevent escape.

Chance watched as Logan shocked himself into unconsciousness 6 times before he could be questioned. During one such spell a mechanical arm removed Logan's right ring finger for tissue sampling. Once Logan could wake himself up without electrocution, Chance finally spoke into the bare room through another intercom.

"Mr. Rampert, by now you have noticed that any attempt at escape or unauthorized movement will not be tolerated. I am going to ask you a series of questions. You will answer yes by shutting both eyes for one second. You will answer no by briefly holding your breath. Do you understand?"

Logan's rage earned him another painful electrical shock.

*Logan we must comply.*

(Fuck these fucking fucks. We will kill them all.)

*We can not. We must comply to lower their guards.*

(Fuck that.)

*You leave us no option.*

With that Fracture took over Logan's body and shut their eyes.

(YOU SON OF A BITCH!)

*Logan, calm yourself. This is the best way. This is the ONLY way*

Fracture responded to Chance's questions while simultaneously trying to calm Logan. His attempts were partly successful but they were both electrocuted numerous times as the hours rolled by.

Time passed. Logan didn't know how much. He was subjected to shocks, flashing lights, and loud noises at strange intervals. He began to hallucinate, the flashes and noises became fire and explosions. He saw his friends, his Marines, dying as IEDs destroyed their vehicles. Tears streamed down his face as helplessness conquered his psyche. His mental deterioration was affecting Fracture as well. Fracture could use its hosts sensory organs to block out illusions and hallucinations but Fracture was getting overwhelmed.

Soon the times of peace between electrical shock, lights, and sounds were filled with pre-recorded messages from Chance. Telling Logan and Fracture to serve, to follow, to obey. Days passed and soon Logan could only identify times without stress after following Chance's commands.

After weeks of conditioning, the liquid left the tank. Logan remained perfectly still.

"Get up Rampert."