"Shut up, little man!" The guard holding Ambrose uses one hand to pull a gag out of his pocket and wraps it around Ambrose's mouth. "No talking to little sissie for you."

"Ohohoh..." The Boss notices the way that Ptelea is struggling. "So, this is her hmmmm?" He walks over to her at a slow pace, cane clacking painfully on the ground with every step. The parking lot was large and echoey, so her screams and each tap of that stick echoed about. When he reaches Ptelea, he takes her face in his her hand for a moment, squeezing her chin between his fingers. "What a cute face!" His innocent facade cracks and his voice turns cold. "Oh, but she doesn't look like any of my children." He drops the chin to slap her hard on her right cheek.

Ambrose growls against the gag and tries to bite the man as he wraps it around his mouth. He lifts his foot in an attempt to hit the man.

Ptelea looks up at the man as he walks over. She whimpers, trembling as he takes her face in his hand. She smiles warily at the comment about her cute face, but it disappears as his voice changes. She then cries out as he slaps her. Her cheek burns from the slap and she begins crying, shaking fearfully. "B....but why?!" She sobs, sniffling in pain. "Rosey help!"

Ambrose's expression turns from one of anger to shock and confusion as the Boss slaps his sister. He looks at him for a split second, in absolute disbelief, before pulling against the hold of his captor. "Ptel!" He says around the gag, trying to pull away. His face turns back into an expression of rage as he begins kicking at the man holding him back. He snarls and pulls as hard as he can, trying to get away.

"It all depends on the Boss. I wouldn't mind continuing working with you," he nods. Hunter eyes her before nodding in agreement. "Oh, I noticed. It was affecting your task. Maybe notify the Boss you can't work on little ones, hmm?"

Nadia smiles. "I love the cold. It's my favorite type of element. Winter is usually easiest to deal with." Her smile was mostly sharp teeth, being a predator and all.

The squad leader and members just waited behind the scene.

Brianna sighs, "Oh, a man like that can get whatever he wants whenever he wants. I don't want to go making demands of him. He'll only cast me out for somebody with a thicker skin." She smiles at Hunter. "Like you! You never falter." She takes the tooth out of her pocket and goes to put it in a plastic tube. "I just have to be able to stick it out, right? I managed to do that today. I didn't try to stop you from hurting her."

"I can't say I'm surprised, given your animal. Not to mention the temperature of the water your swimming in." Marik shuffles back a bit, reminding himself of how cold the water actually was. "I guess that makes us complete opposites. I can't stand the cold."

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Ambrose growls against the gag and tries to bite the man as he wraps it around his mouth. He lifts his foot in an attempt to hit the man.

Ptelea looks up at the man as he walks over. She whimpers, trembling as he takes her face in his hand. She smiles warily at the comment about her cute face, but it disappears as his voice changes. She then cries out as he slaps her. Her cheek burns from the slap and she begins crying, shaking fearfully. "B....but why?!" She sobs, sniffling in pain. "Rosey help!"

Ambrose's expression turns from one of anger to shock and confusion as the Boss slaps his sister. He looks at him for a split second, in absolute disbelief, before pulling against the hold of his captor. "Ptel!" He says around the gag, trying to pull away. His face turns back into an expression of rage as he begins kicking at the man holding him back. He snarls and pulls as hard as he can, trying to get away.

"Oh, look at you, Ambrose!" The Boss walks over to the struggling boy and switches his voice to that of an overly happy man. "You've got that nasty little crinkle in your forehead. Harvey had that too! The similarities between the two of you never cease to amaze me." He sweeps the bottom of his cane up to Ambrose's forehead. "You must be wondering how you didn't see it, hm? Or perhaps why this is happening? Why am I doing this to you of all people? Why the experiments? The torture?" He leans to whisper into Ambrose's ear. "It's nothing personal to you, Ambrose. It's just alllllll about Harvey!" He stretches the all out and steps back, swinging his cane about happily. His stands still suddenly and drops stabs his cane into the ground. "Didn't you hear me say there's nothing I wouldn't do for my family?"

"That's true. The Boss has his way... however he wants it." Hunter looks over at Brianna and rubs his wrists. "And good point. So long as you keep that up, you'll be fine. Try to block out everything that would keep you from completing your task." He advises his associate, as he used to do that when he first started. It'd been awhile...

Nadia smirks at him. "But what fun is the heat? You just melt." She splashes the water softly with her fins, looking into its depths. "Reminds me of home." She says, talking about the cold.

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"Oh, look at you, Ambrose!" The Boss walks over to the struggling boy and switches his voice to that of an overly happy man. "You've got that nasty little crinkle in your forehead. Harvey had that too! The similarities between the two of you never cease to amaze me." He sweeps the bottom of his cane up to Ambrose's forehead. "You must be wondering how you didn't see it, hm? Or perhaps why this is happening? Why am I doing this to you of all people? Why the experiments? The torture?" He leans to whisper into Ambrose's ear. "It's nothing personal to you, Ambrose. It's just alllllll about Harvey!" He stretches the all out and steps back, swinging his cane about happily. His stands still suddenly and drops stabs his cane into the ground. "Didn't you hear me say there's nothing I wouldn't do for my family?"

Ambrose looks at the Boss, confused as all hell now. He flinches at the cane now at his forehead. He whimpers fearfully as the old man rambles on. I...I don't understand. He thinks, unable to speak the words out loud. His eyes burn with unshed tears as he keeps fighting against the man holding him back. He looks at his sister worriedly. Don't cry Ptelly, please don't cry. He thinks, trying to give her a small smile and failing. He looks back at the old man, feeling his heart sink. I don't...I don't understand... He thinks again, fear making its way into his heart. His heart twists and his stomach churns as he awaits whatever the old man has planned next...

"That's true. The Boss has his way... however he wants it." Hunter looks over at Brianna and rubs his wrists. "And good point. So long as you keep that up, you'll be fine. Try to block out everything that would keep you from completing your task." He advises his associate, as he used to do that when he first started. It'd been awhile...

Nadia smirks at him. "But what fun is the heat? You just melt." She splashes the water softly with her fins, looking into its depths. "Reminds me of home." She says, talking about the cold.

"I will take your advice to heart." Brianna nods, then turns her attention to the tooth in the vial. "Hm. If this serum does come out... Do you think you would use it?" she was personally unsure if it would work for those genetically unrelated to The Boss, but you never knew with these things.

"I could easily say the same about the cold. What fun is it? You just freeze." Marik replies, matching her argument. He notices her voice change a little in her line about home. "Homesick, are we?"

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ambrose looks at the Boss, confused as all hell now. He flinches at the cane now at his forehead. He whimpers fearfully as the old man rambles on. I...I don't understand. He thinks, unable to speak the words out loud. His eyes burn with unshed tears as he keeps fighting against the man holding him back. He looks at his sister worriedly. Don't cry Ptelly, please don't cry. He thinks, trying to give her a small smile and failing. He looks back at the old man, feeling his heart sink. I don't...I don't understand... He thinks again, fear making its way into his heart. His heart twists and his stomach churns as he awaits whatever the old man has planned next...

"Now," The Boss spreads his hands out, his light tone resuming. "I want everyone here to treasure this moment, alright?" He swings the cane to point at Ptelea. "You remember seeing your dear big brother," he swings it to Ambrose, "you remember the last time seeing your sister in one piece," he puts his hand on his chest, "and I'll remember the moment that lead to me finally getting everything I ever wanted." His hand flies to his mouth. "Oh, did I let that bit about your sister slip?"

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"Now," The Boss spreads his hands out, his light tone resuming. "I want everyone here to treasure this moment, alright?" He swings the cane to point at Ptelea. "You remember seeing your dear big brother," he swings it to Ambrose, "you remember the last time seeing your sister in one piece," he puts his hand on his chest, "and I'll remember the moment that lead to me finally getting everything I ever wanted." His hand flies to his mouth. "Oh, did I let that bit about your sister slip?"

Ambrose's eyes widen fearfully and he looks at his sister, then back at Boss. He shakes his head vigrously. No! He thinks, pulling again, trying to get away. He twists in turns in the man holding him's grasp, trying to reach his sister.

Ptelea's eyes well with tears. "W..what are you g..going to do to Rosey?" She asks, voice trembling. She looks at her big brother and begins crying. "All I wanted was a hug!" She sobs, shaking. "Please sir! I want to give Rosey a hug!"

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"I will take your advice to heart." Brianna nods, then turns her attention to the tooth in the vial. "Hm. If this serum does come out... Do you think you would use it?" she was personally unsure if it would work for those genetically unrelated to The Boss, but you never knew with these things.

"I could easily say the same about the cold. What fun is it? You just freeze." Marik replies, matching her argument. He notices her voice change a little in her line about home. "Homesick, are we?"

"I'm not sure. It could go horribly wrong for someone normal, don't you think?" Hunter frowns, eyeing the vial. Who knew what sort of mcfreaky stuff would go down if someone were to inject that.

Nadia looks at him. "But if it's hot, there's no way to fix that. You can be naked and still melt. If it's cold, however, you can always warm yourself." She splashes the water once more. "And yes... I do sometimes. But that was a long time ago."

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ambrose's eyes widen fearfully and he looks at his sister, then back at Boss. He shakes his head vigrously. No! He thinks, pulling again, trying to get away. He twists in turns in the man holding him's grasp, trying to reach his sister.

Ptelea's eyes well with tears. "W..what are you g..going to do to Rosey?" She asks, voice trembling. She looks at her big brother and begins crying. "All I wanted was a hug!" She sobs, shaking. "Please sir! I want to give Rosey a hug!"

"Let's see... what do I have in store for her?" Out of his pocket The Boss pulls out a small notepad. "I know I appear pretty 'high-tech' as you kids say these days with my smartphone and all, but I tell you, nothing is quite like the old pen and paper." He looks over the list he has written down and reads each out loud, painstakingly slow. "Wrists - we'll start there, no need for her to be opening any doors, you know? - and then legs, no need for her to be walking, followed by, hrmm a little cut to the tongue..." He turns his gaze back to Ambrose. "I can go on, you know? Oh, but you don't even know what I mean." He laughs a little. "Neither do I! Shall it be a knife? A bat? A hammer? I might switch it up a little..." He motions for the guard to remove Ambrose's gag to let him speak.

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"Let's see... what do I have in store for her?" Out of his pocket The Boss pulls out a small notepad. "I know I appear pretty 'high-tech' as you kids say these days with my smartphone and all, but I tell you, nothing is quite like the old pen and paper." He looks over the list he has written down and reads each out loud, painstakingly slow. "Wrists - we'll start there, no need for her to be opening any doors, you know? - and then legs, no need for her to be walking, followed by, hrmm a little cut to the tongue..." He turns his gaze back to Ambrose. "I can go on, you know? Oh, but you don't even know what I mean." He laughs a little. "Neither do I! Shall it be a knife? A bat? A hammer? I might switch it up a little..." He motions for the guard to remove Ambrose's gag to let him speak.

Ambrose glares coldly at the old man as the guard removes the gag. He leans forward and spits in the old man's face. "You don't fucking touch my sister." He snarls angrily. "Touch her and I'll kill you!" He shouts, glancing at his sister. "Ptelea, don't you worry, okay? I'm not going to let him hurt you." He promises, before looking back at the old man. "Do whatever you want to me. But don't hurt Ptelly."

Ptelea shivers as she listens to what the old man lists. She flinches and whimpers fearfully. She looks at her brother and sniffs. "I love you Rosey..." She cries, burying her face in her shoulder, sobbing.

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

"I'm not sure. It could go horribly wrong for someone normal, don't you think?" Hunter frowns, eyeing the vial. Who knew what sort of mcfreaky stuff would go down if someone were to inject that.

Nadia looks at him. "But if it's hot, there's no way to fix that. You can be naked and still melt. If it's cold, however, you can always warm yourself." She splashes the water once more. "And yes... I do sometimes. But that was a long time ago."

"You're right, of course." Brianna puts the tooth away. "I just have to admit I'm curious as to what animal every person would turn into. Would our serum only create one kind of animal?" She walks over to one of her clipboards and flips through the notes. "So far our experiments show no correlation between body shape or size and animal."

Marik rubs his arms at the thought of cold weather. "Hmm. I hear people say that all the time, but I never seem to feel warm." Some of the water she splashed gets on him. He looks annoyed for a second but he's too intrigued by the meaning behind her words. "Why not go back?"

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ambrose glares coldly at the old man as the guard removes the gag. He leans forward and spits in the old man's face. "You don't fucking touch my sister." He snarls angrily. "Touch her and I'll kill you!" He shouts, glancing at his sister. "Ptelea, don't you worry, okay? I'm not going to let him hurt you." He promises, before looking back at the old man. "Do whatever you want to me. But don't hurt Ptelly."

Ptelea shivers as she listens to what the old man lists. She flinches and whimpers fearfully. She looks at her brother and sniffs. "I love you Rosey..." She cries, burying her face in her shoulder, sobbing.

"Ambrose, I don't have to do anything to little Ptelly." He speaks the nickname with malcontent. "It all depends on what choice you make right here." He begins to walk around Ambrose slowly, circling him like a vulture. "Why don't you tell me all about those friends of yours? Oh, and those enemies they call the Broms..."

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"Ambrose, I don't have to do anything to little Ptelly." He speaks the nickname with malcontent. "It all depends on what choice you make right here." He begins to walk around Ambrose slowly, circling him like a vulture. "Why don't you tell me all about those friends of yours? Oh, and those enemies they call the Broms..."

Ambrose glances at his sister, before looking at the Boss. He shakes his head slowly, then firmly. "I'm not telling you anything." He puts his chin up in defiance of the old man. "I told you too much already. If you were as smart as you claim, you'd already be sending your goons to find them!" He then frowns, pondering that for a moment. "Wait...how did those two scientists know where to find ptelea? No one knew about the foster home except..." He pales. "You've been using me!"

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ambrose glances at his sister, before looking at the Boss. He shakes his head slowly, then firmly. "I'm not telling you anything." He puts his chin up in defiance of the old man. "I told you too much already. If you were as smart as you claim, you'd already be sending your goons to find them!" He then frowns, pondering that for a moment. "Wait...how did those two scientists know where to find ptelea? No one knew about the foster home except..." He pales. "You've been using me!"

"Of course, Ambrose!" The Boss cackles, delighted that the boy was smart enough to finally figure out. "Oh, it took you a while, didn't it my son?" He stops his circling and stands in front of Ambrose. "You see, true suffering can never be found in the self. It has to come from those around you. A friendly facade is the perfect trick to find the one thing a person treasures more than the world." He slams his cane down. "You think I don't have the resources to find them? Of course I do!" He face scrunches up in anger. "Two years ago, we'd cornered a group just like that... But shifting groups are smart. They work together. They all escaped. I don't need a location. I need inside knowledge." His eyes stared into Ambrose's. "And you're going to give me that."

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"Of course, Ambrose!" The Boss cackles, delighted that the boy was smart enough to finally figure out. "Oh, it took you a while, didn't it my son?" He stops his circling and stands in front of Ambrose. "You see, true suffering can never be found in the self. It has to come from those around you. A friendly facade is the perfect trick to find the one thing a person treasures more than the world." He slams his cane down. "You think I don't have the resources to find them? Of course I do!" He face scrunches up in anger. "Two years ago, we'd cornered a group just like that... But shifting groups are smart. They work together. They all escaped. I don't need a location. I need inside knowledge." His eyes stared into Ambrose's. "And you're going to give me that."

Ambrose flinches at the cane hitting the ground, but keeps his gaze level with the old man. "I'm not stupid sir. Even inside that black and shriveled heart, you still have some...twisted, distorted version of love. And I don't think your son would be happy if you hurt a little girl with his name." He lifts his chin a it. "You know about the Broms, and you know we shift. I think with those bits of information you should be able to figure it out. And if not...well I'd think the shifters should be able to live on their own if they can outsmart you."

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ambrose flinches at the cane hitting the ground, but keeps his gaze level with the old man. "I'm not stupid sir. Even inside that black and shriveled heart, you still have some...twisted, distorted version of love. And I don't think your son would be happy if you hurt a little girl with his name." He lifts his chin a it. "You know about the Broms, and you know we shift. I think with those bits of information you should be able to figure it out. And if not...well I'd think the shifters should be able to live on their own if they can outsmart you."

"You misjudge me, Ambrose." The Boss looks angrily at him. "My heart is bigger than yours will ever be. This is for Harvey! And Anna! And Leena! And everyone of my children! And their children! And every member of my family!" He squeezes the top of his cane. "But especially Harvey." He looks to the sky as he begins to recount his memories. "Harvey was a golden retriever. More than anything he loved to run around. He told me he want his brothers and sisters to run and play with him..." He thrusts his arms out skyward. "He told me nothing could ever match the feeling of shifting! He told me he felt alone! And then one day..." he takes a deep breath, "Harvey couldn't run anymore." Suddenly the Boss strikes Ambrose with the end of his cane. "Harvey could never run again! And Harvey would never be with his siblings! And he'd never see them shift!" With each exclamation he struck Ambrose and then stops, panting. "But Harvey... My little golden retriever, lay in my lap in the backyard while his breath left him and asked me if his siblings would run with him someday... I will never retract that promise." His eyes filled with a fire. "You, Ambrose, will be my vessel. You will lead them to me and I will capture them like the cattle fodder they are."

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

"You misjudge me, Ambrose." The Boss looks angrily at him. "My heart is bigger than yours will ever be. This is for Harvey! And Anna! And Leena! And everyone of my children! And their children! And every member of my family!" He squeezes the top of his cane. "But especially Harvey." He looks to the sky as he begins to recount his memories. "Harvey was a golden retriever. More than anything he loved to run around. He told me he want his brothers and sisters to run and play with him..." He thrusts his arms out skyward. "He told me nothing could ever match the feeling of shifting! He told me he felt alone! And then one day..." he takes a deep breath, "Harvey couldn't run anymore." Suddenly the Boss strikes Ambrose with the end of his cane. "Harvey could never run again! And Harvey would never be with his siblings! And he'd never see them shift!" With each exclamation he struck Ambrose and then stops, panting. "But Harvey... My little golden retriever, lay in my lap in the backyard while his breath left him and asked me if his siblings would run with him someday... I will never retract that promise." His eyes filled with a fire. "You, Ambrose, will be my vessel. You will lead them to me and I will capture them like the cattle fodder they are."

Ambrose glares coldly at the boss. "Shriveled and black, like I said." He snarls, then cries out as he's hit by the cane. He whimpers softly in pain. "I'm never going to help you. You miserable, pathetic excuse for a father." He spits blood onto the ground then lifts his head to glare at the old man, but was unable to meet his gaze, so he looks down at the ground again. "I don't care how many fucking children you have. I don't care about any promises you made. Hell, I dont' care if you and your children never get to shift again. My friends are not cattle fodder, and I'm never going to help you find them. You'll have to kill me before I'll betray the trust of every single person I've ever met." He shivers slightly, as though anticipating another smack from the cane. "You've made comments about how I look like your son. And yet you hit and torture me. I have scars that will never go away because of you. I'm missing teeth because of your selfishness." He glances at his sister sadly. "You're going to hurt my sister because of your own foolish selfishness. That's on you. Not me." He spits at the old man once again. "Go to hell. I'm never going to help you."

<Snipped quote by Hawksnest565>

Ambrose glares coldly at the boss. "Shriveled and black, like I said." He snarls, then cries out as he's hit by the cane. He whimpers softly in pain. "I'm never going to help you. You miserable, pathetic excuse for a father." He spits blood onto the ground then lifts his head to glare at the old man, but was unable to meet his gaze, so he looks down at the ground again. "I don't care how many fucking children you have. I don't care about any promises you made. Hell, I dont' care if you and your children never get to shift again. My friends are not cattle fodder, and I'm never going to help you find them. You'll have to kill me before I'll betray the trust of every single person I've ever met." He shivers slightly, as though anticipating another smack from the cane. "You've made comments about how I look like your son. And yet you hit and torture me. I have scars that will never go away because of you. I'm missing teeth because of your selfishness." He glances at his sister sadly. "You're going to hurt my sister because of your own foolish selfishness. That's on you. Not me." He spits at the old man once again. "Go to hell. I'm never going to help you."

At Ambrose's insolence, The Boss pushes the edge of his cane up against Ambrose's chin so that the boy is looking right at him. "So much fire, my son! Don't hesitate to show it to me!" His eyes sparkle for a moment. "After all the beatings you took... Ah, I expected as much, you know? Young people have so much strength these days." He drops the cane and steps backwards, heading back towards Ptelea. "Or is it that teenagers have so much strength today? Little Ptelea is only nine after all." He flips around when he reaches her and taps the cane lightly on her head. "It only takes the right words, Ambrose." He squeezes Ptelea's shoulder. "Why don't you tell your little sister that you won't give them to me?" His voice is dark again. "Of course, I won't be going easy on her if you don't do as I say. You think it hurts me to torture you because you share Harvey's face? I have no delusions. My son is dead. Would you like your Ptelly to follow?"

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

At Ambrose's insolence, The Boss pushes the edge of his cane up against Ambrose's chin so that the boy is looking right at him. "So much fire, my son! Don't hesitate to show it to me!" His eyes sparkle for a moment. "After all the beatings you took... Ah, I expected as much, you know? Young people have so much strength these days." He drops the cane and steps backwards, heading back towards Ptelea. "Or is it that teenagers have so much strength today? Little Ptelea is only nine after all." He flips around when he reaches her and taps the cane lightly on her head. "It only takes the right words, Ambrose." He squeezes Ptelea's shoulder. "Why don't you tell your little sister that you won't give them to me?" His voice is dark again. "Of course, I won't be going easy on her if you don't do as I say. You think it hurts me to torture you because you share Harvey's face? I have no delusions. My son is dead. Would you like your Ptelly to follow?"

Ambrose flinches at the cane and averts his eyes, unable to meet the old man's gaze. "I'm not your son.." He whispers softly. He then watches the Boss walk back towards Ptelea. He strains against the man holding him. "Don't you fucking touch her." He snarls, looking at his sister's frightened gaze. He whimpers slightly.

Ptelea whines at the threats and she squirms at him squeezing her shoulder. She looks at Ambrose and sniffles. "Ambrose, please!" She cries. "please don't let him kill me!" She sobs, trembling violently. Tears roll down her cheeks. Ambrose is the only person who could ever help me! Why isn't he helping me now...

Ambrose pales and struggles as hard as he can. "My friends are my family just as much as Ptelea is! You can't ask me to betray one's life for the life of the other!" He bites his lip as he looks at his sister. "It's okay.." He says with as much strength as he can muster. "He's bluffing Ptel. He's not going to kill you, I promise." He manages a small smile at his sister. "Hey, don't you worry, I'm not going to let that man hurt you. I'm right here."