No Longer, Yet Everlasting

Chapter Ten

(Unknown Person POV)

A woman sat bowing on one knee, trembling under the menacing gaze of that who stood before her. His rage and malice oozing so heavily others had no choice but to kneel.

The woman, more an underling subordinate to the man, swallowed before relaying the news she had discovered. "Sir, I have an update on the current situation as you requested."

"What is the situation?" The man angrily demanded.

"M-Most of the staff has been captured and half the research secured by the Navy. Test subjects have all been taken and relocated except for the few the remaining researchers could escape with..!"

The man bellowed his unhappiness as he turned to smash his fist on his desk behind him. The woman cringed in fear of his impending wrath, praying he would not direct it her way.

"What of the beast?!! He was the most important subject we had. Almost all our research was based around him!" The middle aged man inquired with a rough hard voice to the scared woman.

"I..I-I'm s-sorry sir! The Navy now holds him in their possession. Along with most of our files on him and his daily research papers. M..m-miss-s Russell, the new hire, was the t-traitor. She is also currently stationed within the Navy base." After a moment of dead silence the woman cautiously asked, "What will you have us do sir?"

Five minutes passed before either person moved or made a peep. The man slowly slunk to the chair behind his desk and sat down. He then proceeded to instruct the lady on their next move.

"Find him! Bring him here immediately. We must obtain him back in order to progress our research. I don't give a damn if he is injured, just alive; barely if need be. Send the hunters if you must. Just get me that beast!! Do it without anyone finding out if possible. We don't need another raid and those Navy SEAL bastards snooping around if word gets out the beast was taken again. The rest of the scientists may proceed with the research that was saved. Now get out of my sight!" He growled before rubbing his temple. The woman swiftly scurried out of the room.

"I will have you, monster." The man chuckled manically as he picked up a slightly burnt picture of Nyxton off his metal desk top. "...No matter what!"

(River and Teams POV)

Jax halted at the rooms entrance before announcing our presence to the woman and her assistant.

"Hello Ana. I'm sorry to trouble you but it's an emergency. We need your immediate help."

The woman, standing roughly 5 foot 3 with creamy white skin, turned to face us. She had the most shocking colored hair I'd ever seen. It was a light blue smurf color, held to the side in a loose pony. It went perfectly with her sparkling gray-blue eyes. It also helped frame her petite face, which was decorated with numerous freckles. All in all, she was a gorgeous woman.

"Well well well. If it isn't my long time childhood friend Jax. It's been a while. To what do I owe this surprise visit? What's the emergency?" She answered in an angelic voice.

"First let me introduce you. Guys this is Dr. Anastasia Velveteen, she is the best at what she does. And Ana this is Commander River James and his teammates Ty, Marcus, Leonard, Jake, Luca, and Cole. The emergency is top secret so you can't tell anyone about it. I have to inform you ahead of time that if you take on this mission you'll be the primary vet attending to this patient for the rest of his life. Are you willing to take this challenge?"

"Hey everyone. It's nice to meet you. You can just call me Ana, everyone does. Wait, how is an animal considered top secret? Is there something strange about it? And why for the rest of his life? Jax what's going on here?" Anastasia exclaimed a bit worriedly.

"Look, I know it's a lot to take in right now but you can trust me. I wouldn't bring something so important to you if I didn't think you could handle it and keep it a secret no less. You are one of the greatest vets I've ever known and right now that's what this patient needs."

"..Okay... Can you at least tell me a bit more information on this top secret animal the Navy needs my utmost assistance with? You know I'll agree to help no matter what because I'm willing to risk my life to save any and every animal. That's the duty of a vet. It's also my principle."

"Well since you are going to agree to the mission anyways I'll inform you on who you'll be caring for." Jax stepped to the left to reveal Nyxton barely conscious on the gurney still in his snow leopard form. Ana gasped at the sight of him. "This is Nyxton. He is very unique and also the one we need you to care for. The reason he is top secret is because he is a rare species. He is a mix of part human and part beast. He can shape shift into three types of big cat animal forms. Currently he is in the newest form we all have not seen till now, his snow leopard form. We rescued him from being held captive at an illegal animal testing facility in Brazil. He was there for ten years and is unstable. We need you to care for him at times such as this when he is in his animal form. I will be caring for him when he is in his human form. Do you think you can still do it?"

Everyone stared at Ana as her eyes stared straight into Nyxtons. He growled his distaste at her challenge but it was weak. Her face contorted with worry as he whined lowly. He was in pain and for some reason she didn't like it. It may be because she is a vet and it was her job to care for the lives of animals. Or it could be something else. All she knew was he needed her help and she would give it.

She tightened the vet coat and latex gloves she wore before ordering us to wheel Nyxton into the middle of the room. She would need us all to leave except for one person to assist her. This being because if Nyxton was to be kept top secret then none of her assistants at the small clinic could know. This meant they couldn't help her if she needed it.

As his brother, I stepped forward with my hand raised. "I'll stay."

Dr. Velveteen glanced to me before stating, "I don't know. Maybe it would be best to have Dr. Jax stay."

I was about to protest before Jax spoke up. "It's okay Ana. River is actually Nyxtons older half brother. It was a surprise but he just found out a few days ago. I believe it would be better to allow him in the room."

I gave Jax a look thanking him with a nod of my head. Then I turned back to Dr. Velveteen. She looked a bit shocked at the news. I understood what she was thinking though. How can I be his brother when I don't change into an animal or have beast like features? Well isn't that the power of being a half brother?

"Our mother was the same but we had different dads. If you were wondering." I piped up wanting to easy her wondering thoughts. It's not like everyone wasn't thinking about it anyways. Might as well get it out into the air.

"...What happened to his parents? If you don't mind me asking that is." She questioned as she very lightly touched the tip of Nyxtons ear. It flickered before righting again. He didn't seem to have the strength to growl anymore because he lay there just breathing slowly and hazily staring up at Dr. Velveteen.

For being in a medical facility, Nyxton didn't seem too freaked out about it. But then again he was out of it. There was no way he even knew where he was. There is also the possibility that this vet could have a calming affect on him. Who knew. I was just glad he wasn't fighting to break out of here.

"We don't really know what happened to his real dad. His step dad was on file but there wasn't much except a few police reports of assault and DUIs. His mother on the other hand is also Rivers mother so she is still alive and well. I'm not sure if Nyxton knows about that though. We haven't had a chance to discuss things with him before he freaked out and ended up here." Cole answered a little awkwardly after a few seconds of silence passed by.

"Well then I'll just continue on with the examination. It shouldn't take too long. The symptoms he is exhibiting are close to what most animals show when they are severely stressed. And from what I've gathered he some health issues that could also be adding to what's happening to him. I'll give him a high dose of muscle relaxant and then a pain reliever for now and see how he does. He looks to be at war with himself so we will have to let him figure it out. Let's just hope he doesn't damage himself further. I'll take a blood sample and test it for any abnormalities. The results will be outs in a few hours." Ana informed everyone before they left me and her in the room to proceed with the exam.

I let my eyes travel down to my brother now laying atop a metal table. He was finally fully unconscious and had a gas mask around his muzzle keeping him under. I hope he will be okay. It's weird to have a new little brother all of a sudden but I won't love or care for him any less. He deserves much greater than he got in life. Ten years of nothing but lonely, pain filled, suffering. He did nothing but be what he was born as. And he got punished for it still. Now it's time to reward him with a better life. As family it's my duty to do just that.

(Nyxtons POV)

Before that new scientist, Dr. Anastasia Velveteen, put me under I got a real good look at her face. She was gorgeous. She reminded me of my parents. Her scent was calming and sweet smelling. Kind of like black cherries and Sakura flowers mixed with a dash of green apple. An addicting scent to my nose. She had the right touch when it came to animals it seemed because every time she slightly touched me my nerves settled and my mind drew a blank.

If there really was such a thing, then I would say she made me feel safe.

I closed my eyes as the drugs took effect. This time I enjoyed the dream that visited me.

~ Dream ~

'When I was really little, I could remember a time where life was fantastic. My real dad was alive and walking hand in hand with my mom behind me. It was a crisp, bright winter evening, unlike the day of my kidnapping. I danced in the falling snow near a frozen pond at a park as I gazed up at the blurry sky.

It was quiet and peaceful since fall lay down to rest, giving winter it's chance to shine. Animals were sleeping, birds were away for the cold season, and time flowed slowly, unhindered.

My parents had stopped to stand a distance away from me and peer at the scenery before them. They held each other in a gentle, loving embrace. I felt not even the cold snow could penetrate their hearts and freeze their love.

This was a time full of creating and keeping memories. A time I once knew and cherished. But now.... time still flows. Steady, continuously, hollow....

The past memories have become vague with recent more painful ones taking their place.

Time broke my future the closer it got to it. My parents are no longer, my happiness is no longer, but my pain.... My pain is everlasting. When will it too become no longer?

~ Dream Ends ~