Continued from: Comrades once again

Mind control was always more difficult for Amanda to grasp when she was younger, in fact she didn’t fully understand her limits until Sam left. That was the motivation that got her to where she was today, ‘I could force him back make him want to stay…’ she thought when she was younger but knew now that she couldn’t make people feel the way she wanted them to. No all she could do was plunge into their mind and take control of her body. Sure she couldn’t move much in her own body after that but given the opportunity it was very, very handy.

She was tired and it showed, Sydney made a comment about her looking older than she was as a way of showing his disapproval in the way she handling Sam. They were all friends when they were younger at least that was how Sydney and her felt why would Sam want to ruin it and run? Sure it wasn’t the best life but it was all they got to just run off like that, all he did was leave a note saying he was sorry. ‘He wasn’t though’ she thought again as she was looking through a two way mirror into a small padded room.

The figure on the table was silent he didn’t move nor speak all he did was lay there his eye shut in a silent sleep. He occasionally got a smile on his face, which was something she couldn’t help but notice, she loved and hated that smile. She knew why Sam smiled though, it was her doing. It was really the only way she could control his body and mutation as well as she had, it wasn’t full perfect control but it was enough to do what she had been doing with him.

Other cells like this one had been filling up and more and more former agents had been signing back up to her and Sydney’s pet project. T.A.T. once stood for something, the rules changed and that line that they weren’t supposed to cross was non-existent on the field casualties were accepted and at one point even rewarded. ’That was when we lost him… she thought as she placed a hand on the mirror.

Sam always hated the violence he was the best as far as she was concerned and didn’t understand why he didn’t just accept it. He had a big heart something that she noticed when they were younger and one of the reasons he mattered so much to her. She hated herself for it. He left her and here she was a thin sheet of glass away and all she wanted to do was touch him, feel him. She resisted and closed her eyes and looked into Sam’s dreams.

The sky was blue and the air was warm, spring she assumed. She was standing behind a tree in his dreams and watching him from afar he had one eye in here two it must be a memory he was found of she noticed that dreams were sometimes events that had happened before. Sam was walking next to what she assumed was his dog a large lummox of a beast whose tail couldn’t stop wagging due to anticipation of what she assumed was a game of fetch though it turned mostly into Sam chasing down the dog trying to pry the twice knotted rope from his mouth. He was laughing. She hated to see him so happy she loved it and hated it.

The wind blew in the trees and overhead she saw the leaves saw back and forth, she looked back to Sam and gave a small smile. One she wiped away when she heard kids laughing. They ran towards Sam as if they were all friends, family even. They couldn’t have been older than seven or eight a boy and a girl. The boy was small and she spotted a furry tail coming from his backside, he looked down slightly then held up a football. The girl was smaller than the boy but she couldn’t stop grinning at Sam.

The dog behind Sam shimmered and vanished he touched the ball,'another dream' she had determined. Sam’s face aged a few years and his eye had somehow reformed. This confused Amanda. She watched intently though as the children’s voices became louder as if the volume had turned up around them, ”Dad want to play catch?” the boy said as the girl added her approval of the suggestion, “Just till mommy comes, I don’t want her to see me ruin my new outfit.” The girl leaned in as if to whisper to Sam, “She doesn’t like grass stains…”

Sam picked up the ball and laughed he actually laughed? These children were calling him dad!?! And who was the mother? It was then she realized how flustered she was becoming at the thought of Sam having a life like this with someone else. She calmed herself and continued to watch, ”Funny thing about your mom Ayrin, she can remove the grass stains with flick of the wrist.” Sam flicked his wrist and then the girl copied laughing a bit of ice forming on the ground below her. Amanda blinked and then found herself compelled to step forward into view.

She found herself looking at Sam through the glass again and his expression changed, his smile faded and she sighed sadly. “You’re supposed to keep him happy right? Isn’t that how it works?” A voice said from behind her. Sydney must have snuck in while I was watching she determined turning to face the body shifter, “I was only glimpsing to figure out what could put a smile on that simple face of his...” she said trying to convince herself more than Sydney.

He was right however, her control over him was only as successful if the mind was at peace meaning when ever she took control she needed to create a dream world of bliss for Sam even if that meant not including herself in those dreams, at least not all of them. She had been able to interject herself a few times though it seemed with those few instances she became more distracted when controlling his body. He still thinks about me she thought happily not sharing the information with her partner. The last thing she needed was Sydney thinking she was weak.

The only reason they both had agreed to resume the program was a mutual understanding of each other and the importance of it. If he had thought she was getting weak, well she didn’t think that Sydney would indulge her in using Sam much longer. She was the only reason Sam still had his memories intact and or still alive. Sydney took Sam leaving a lot harder than she did, though he would never admit it.

“Well whatever you do just keep him under, I don’t want him break the grip and turning loose again, we barley had him last time.” Sydney said his eyes fixed firmly on Sam. It was true she had got sloppy and started to doze off once when she was bringing him back to the base. Somehow Sam overcame her for a brief moment and panicked he started to run and took down two of the operatives they sent to retrieve him. What’s worse he almost made it to a phone luckily though they took him down before he got into contact with anyone. The memory was cleared from his mind and he was sedated again.

“I was overexerting myself and he wasn’t drugged like he is now,” Amanda said getting a bit of attitude; the last thing she needed was Sydney questioning her abilities. The woman looked away from Sam and stared at Sydney whose eyes were still fixed on Sam, “I think it might be time to move on to phase two…”

His eyes didn’t move he knew what phase two was and what it required of them both but he remained silent before turning his attention to Amanda, she was tired the bag under her eyes made that obvious and the tone she had been taking lately seemed to shift more the waves during a storm, one minute she was happy and then he would ask her a question and she would snap at him. Sydney silently chalked it up to being either the time of the month or her seeing Sam and being this close to him.

Sydney had seen the looks she had been giving him when she thought no one was looking but Sydney was always watching, calculating, and bringing everything into his equations. Sydney was never the one to make the plans it was always Amanda but ever since they started going down this road he school girl infatuation with Sam had become almost more trouble than good, once or twice his ‘eyes’ had seen her stealing away into Sam’s cell in the dead of night.

He kept quite though because she was still producing results, Sam had rounded up a handful of former operatives in a manner of days when some of the other lesser operatives took days and weeks to produce a percent of what he had been collecting. For the first time in a long time Sydney was happy. Though he would never tell anyone not even Amanda though he was pretty sure she could tell.

His face remained fixed to his current mask (emotionless) “Rest up first, it has already been four days since you took control and I don’t want anyone at the mansion wondering where he was. For this plan to work we can’t have you slip up, can we?” he was pressing her buttons and he couldn’t help but let a small change in the mask break out. His lip turned up into a thin smile from there he turned from the glass pane and walked to the door. “I don’t need to remind you that we are still in a very delicate stage. If one domino falls too early or it is out of place the web we have created comes apart.”

He left it at that Amanda was the one that was the mastermind, even though Sydney was good with contingency plans Amanda was the one that made all of this possible he was just hoping that she wouldn’t slip up due to her little crush.

Amanda kept a straight face till Sydney left the room, when he left she gave an obscene hand gesture and looked back to Sam on the other side of the mirror. Syd didn’t get it, how could he? She put her hand back on the mirror and closed her eyes diving back into Sam’s mind. Dreams were a funny thing to Amanda when they weren’t your own you get a different perspective on how one thinks and reacts to the world.

Not to surprising to her Sam’s dreams seemed to be overly bright, people smiling and the sun was always shining. ‘Stupid Sam’ she thought to herself as she looked to see Sam diving out of a jet into what she assumed was an ocean. A few others followed after him. ‘Must be a mission of his’ she thought to herself again standing on the water out of view.

A boat was sinking in the background and the scene quickly changed again this time by here doing. His mind was wandering and she wanted to keep him focused on something in particular, “Hey Sam,” she said her voice was in a higher pitch than usual and her form took on one of her youth. Sam’s body and voice followed suit, she was trying to recreate a memory.

Sam stared back at her under the stars and she reached out and held his hand. Despite for the cold on the ledge of the mountain base when she held his hand the air around them seemed to heat up. Blood rushed to her face, both in the dream world and the real one. “I have to leave you for a while, but we will see each other soon right?” she asked Sam hoping the answer was one she wanted to hear. She had to send him back to the mansion to initiate phase two she just hoped that all went to according to plan.

Dream Sam nodded his head and kissed her on the cheek, ”Be careful, I don’t get to see you enough as is with us flying off in different directions all the time, I want to see you soon though. One day we can be together.” her face flushed, this was one of her fondest memories of him one she and it seemed he recalled. “Promise?” she asked in the dream world and allowed, ”Promise.” Sam said.

With that Amanda exited the dream world to let Sam’s mind wander to his fondest memories or his ideal dreams it was almost cruel how her mutation worked she reflected as she exited the room adjacent to Sam’s she would see him again, he promised and phase two would be in play soon. Now all they had to do was get him back to the mansion.

OOC: This post takes place as the same time as Amnesia? Hangover?Jet Lag?... Yes

He was trying to remember, that was something that just couldn’t happen. She forced a few migraines on him, weak at first but when he stopped trying to think what happened she let up, it was a mistake on her part. No matter how rusty someone like Sam was when it came to T.A.T. training it seemed some of it was like riding a bicycle to him. He had an idea of what happened. What’s worse it seemed he glimpsed an image that kept drawing his thoughts back to his little excursion they sent him on.

‘Damn it’ cursed Amanda as she put more pressure on Sam causing him to become dizzy and uncoordinated. The sooner he blacked out the better, she couldn’t have him thinking about what happened while she was so far away it was becoming more and more difficult to affect him. Almost like his mind was building up a tolerance for her. It was annoying really but then if this weren’t the case it wouldn’t be the Sam she loved and hated.

He was walking now his thoughts were now jumbled but one thing that stood out was her own eyes, he kept thinking about them. She sighed irritated of the situation and forced her hand and caused him to blackout. It wasn’t the best way to handle the situation but the last thing she needed was Sydney telling her that he was right.

Amanda closed her eyes and picked up the phone, “Sydney, prepare the cells early,” she paused as he asked the question they both already knew the answer to, “Yeah… he is starting to remember.”

There wasn’t a ton of time to react to what was happening but she was currently doing the best she could. She was closing the distance between the two the close she was to Sam the more powerful her ability would be over him and the fact that he was currently drugged wouldn’t help him much. She could feel his body go numb and the more he thought about what happened the more she started to panic.

‘Keep calm’ she told herself as one of the grunts drove the car closer to the mansion, ‘the calmer you are the easier this is’ she breathed in and out and closed her eyes tuning into Sam’s senses she could take control if she wanted to but not yet, she wanted to see how resourceful he was call it curiosity the worst thing that could happen is he would figure out where he was what he was doing and who was in control.

“Clever” Amanda said to herself as she heard Sam give the command to check any of the typical exits anyone would have to get out of New York. What was more impressive was how intricate Sam’s thought process was becoming; it was like layer on layer of what he thought was a possibility without it leading into any major conclusion. However she knew how the mind works especially Sam’s. She thought a little more and unraveled the onion like workings of his layered thought process and smirked. “Well he knows who is doing this…” Amanda said out loudly again.

“Should I kill him?” the agent said in the co-pilot seat in front of her, “You say something stupid like that I’ll pinch the nerve in the back of your neck turning you into a vegetable.” She said without even thinking much about it. “Sam is a key in our power play, with him out of the picture it becomes almost impossible.” She said shaking her head telling herself to let Sydney know to kill the agent in front of her for suggesting something so stupid.

“Pull up around the corner and wait, I can do enough from here.” Amanda said her eyes still closed, “But be ready to drive off if need be.” ‘Let’s see what happens…’ she thought to herself her hands shaking slightly from the anticipation.

“He’ll be here in a few seconds, unlock the door.” Amanda said opening her eyes and looking out the tinted window to see Sam running towards her. Something she had always wished for but in a different situation ideally more emotion on his face other than just a serious yet blank stare. Amanda moved over to the opposite side of the car behind the drivers seat and waited till Sam was sitting next to her before she gave her next order, “Drive, we will wait in the city and come back tonight for phase two before we head back to base.” Amanda said sorting more through Sam’s thoughts, “Also call Sydney and let him know we won’t be needing a lift, I just found one.”

Once the car was moving Amanda dived back into Sam’s mind and closed her eyes mentally projecting every one of Sam’s hearts desires. He had a family kids and he was happy more happy than Amanda had ever seen him and she hated him for it because every one of his fantasies Sydney and more importantly her was nowhere to be found. If it was anyone else she would have killed them but this was Sam. Resisting the urge to implant herself in his dreams she opened her eyes and looked out the window while her hand had found Sam’s motionless on the seat beside her.

The buildings passed by as their black metro car went further and further into the city with no particular place to go. Amanda and Sam remained in the back seat till it was becoming increasingly dark out why the two agents sat in front of their car in an alley way. They were on point which was irrelevant because even if anyone had found Sam or the car he resided in she would have erased their mind and sent them on their marry way. No the only reason she told the agents to be outside was so she could be alone with Sam.

“Listen, I know your going to be furious with me at first,” The woman said playing with Sam’s fingers in her hand, while Sam continued to remain motionless, “But in time you’ll come to love me again just like you used too back when things were perfect.” Amanda carried on talking to Sam for another few hours occasionally stopping as the agents drove the car to a fast food joint or some gas station.

They waited until the dark of night before they returned back to the mansion or at least close enough to let Sam loose once again so he could continue on with phase two. “Be ready for the signal, once he acquires the targets and the transport we will be heading back to base. Make sure he isn’t followed. Understand?” she asked the two agents who nodded their head and waited in the car as she and Sam exited.

“Now Sam I’ll be with you every step of the way,” Amanda said as she pulled Sam closer to her now that she was out of immediate view of the two agents, “I’ll be waiting for you so make sure you come back this time. Promise?” she asked Sam running her fingers along his emotionless face only to stop when her index finger rested on his lips. She waited for a second but when Sam didn’t respond she smiled, “Good” leaning forward she kissed Sam for a few seconds before getting back into the car and closing her eyes taking full control of Sam once again.

(Continued in Pied Piper)

(OOC: Continued from Pied Piper)

Everything was going according to plan and Amanda couldn’t have be more satisfied with herself unless Sam was doing this of his own accord and instead of them heading back to base where Sydney and a team was waiting for the kids they were going somewhere where just the two of them could be with each other. Amanda shifted her attention from Sam to the jet she was now located in and was surprised a school had something as high tech as this. “Impressive” Amanda said as she sat down in the co-pilot’s chair as she had Sam start up the engine and open the bay doors.

Looking out of the window and up she saw the roof retract away as the roar of the engine became louder and louder. According to the information in Sam’s head there wasn’t a shut off switch for the jet anywhere outside of the jet so there was no way to stop the jet once it was moving. Unless the bay doors were shut or jammed but Amanda made sure there was no stopping it. The mission in her opinion was a complete success and she closed her eyes briefly and exhaled. ‘Almost over… then I’ll have you to myself a bit.’ Thought Amanda as she reached her hand out and placed it on Sam’s lap.

She dived into his mind once again and peered in on Sam’s dreams where she had trapped him. His fondest memories and dreams had become his prison keeping him under control while his body was hers to control. Looking around in Sam’s dream she noticed a few things that were becoming increasingly familiar, his room at the mansion not being one of them. There was a picture of Sam with a woman that was hazy at first but became crystal clear the more she peered at it. It was a picture of Sam and herself on a beach one that he had taken after a mission they had accomplished together in fact it was the one where Sam had first kissed her.

Outside of Sam’s mind Amanda smiled and kept herself in his prison a bit longer to see what else would happen next and to her surprise Amanda watched herself walk out of his bathroom in a towel followed by Sam grinning ear to ear. He had both eyes now and both were focused on the dream version of her self. They were both smiling and happy, something that Amanda didn’t ever see possible at the mansion she tried civilian life before and she didn’t think it possible even with Sam in her life.

Everything flashed and Amanda found herself looking at clouds for miles in front of her and a big burly hand on her shoulder trying to urge her to focus. “-anda! Amanda wake up! Sydney called and wants –urgh!” the subordinate dropped when Amanda angrily pinched a nerve in his brain killing him instantly. She blinked once and looked at the body. “Damnit.” It seemed some time passed since she dived into Sam’s mind. She blinked once and called Sydney while looking at the radar, “We will be there in a few hours. Might need a body bag, one of the agents didn’t last the flight…. No it was his own fault I was mind diving and he startled me… Yeah… all right…” after she hung up the phone Amanda looked to the limp body then back to Sam then back to the radar. “Impossible to find good help.”

A few hours passed and Amanda was back home at least a refurbished version of it. Hard to call it the old home when Sam trashed over half of the base on his ‘great’ escape. There were still carvings in the wall gashes and bullet wounds it was a work in progress and since Sam’s last stay in the Colorado rocky mountains base there was a lot of work to be done. Sam walked out of the jet followed by Amanda. The kids were still in the storage compartment and the lifeless body of thug number three was still lying in the isle of the jet.

“Had to kill him?” came a familiar voice one that strained her focus on Sam momentarily. She felt rage and anger then peace. Sam was back under control and it was safe for Sydney to move closer followed by a baker's dozen of agents dressed in black. “Classic uniform, I like.” Amanda said sarcastically rolling her eyes and giving Sam a small push on the back to not only reassure Sydney and herself but the guards as well that Sam was on a short leash. Sam moved forward towards Sydney and the others and stopped short before he was forced to his knees. “Nice” was all Sydney could say before he waved his hand sending the guards into the jet to collect kids and the body. “Put the kids in the east wing and prep the training room I want our first three new recruits up and moving as soon as possible.”

Sydney turned to Amanda, “I want the body shifter on the chopping block first, do what you need to correct his thinking and let me know when we have a full understanding of his abilities.” Sydney then pointed to Sam who was still on his knees staring blankly into the distance, “And get him off his knees you really think if he had any idea what was going on he’d be thrilled about you treating him like a dog?” Sam got up under Amanda’s command and then barked. Sydney shook his head and Amanda and Sam walked off down the corridor back to his holding cell.

(OOC: CS and Amanda continued in For the Man who has everything