"I don't care what you say Luke, those people are a batch of freaks. I've heard . . ." Bo started to say, but his sentence was cut short by Luke.
     "Just shut up for once Bo. You don't know anything. You don't even really know them, not like I do. I quite frankly don't care what you have heard." Luke retorted.
     "Ever since you started hanging around with them you've turned into a real jerk." Bo said.
     "Shut your mouth before I shut it for you." Luke said.
     "Why should I? It is the truth."
Luke scowled and then punched Bo in the jaw. Bo stumbled backwards, he looked at Luke with shocked eyes, as he wiped the blood from his the side of his mouth. Bo went to retaliate but Luke grabbed him by his left arm and twisted it behind Bo's back, almost to the point of breaking it.  Luke grabbed Bo by the chin with his other hand, pulling Bo's backwards. Bo could barely believe that this was happening, he and Luke had been in many scraps before but Luke had never actually hurt him.
     "Are you going to keep your mouth shut now?"
     "Yes." Bo said, his voice strangled from the pressure on his throat.
After a moment Luke seemed satisfied and roughly shoved Bo to the ground. Bo laid stunned for a moment. Bo heard the sound of the General's engine rev to life and the tires squeal as Luke took off. Bo stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothes, his head was throbbing. He sighed deeply then turned and walked into the house.
     Luke stopped at the gate of the compound; two armed guards stood on either side of the gate. One of them approached Luke, leaning to look into the window.
     "Hey Luke. How you doing?"
     "Just fine Fred." Luke replied.
Fred nodded to the other guard, Dan, to open the gate. Luke drove through the gate, driving slowly along the compound's roads to the large complex on the grounds. Luke stopped the General in front of building and went inside. He walked through the corridors, to Sam Turner's office. Luke knocked on the large wooden door.
     "Come in."
Luke opened the door and stepped into Sam's spacious office, which was decorated with many ancient antiques.
     "Well hello Luke." Sam said.
     "Hey Sammy."
     "I didn't expect to see you back so soon." Sam said.
     "Family problems." Luke muttered.
     "Really, do you want to talk about it?" Sam asked.
Luke shrugged. "It is just my annoying little cousin getting on my last nerve."
     "I thought you two were the best of friend's."
     "We used to be . . . I guess I just finally opened my eyes to how annoying he can be." Luke said and told him everything about the fight he had with Bo.
     "Well like I've told you before you are welcome to come here and stay any time." Sam said.
     "Thanks." Luke said.
Sam glanced at his watch. "I have a meeting to be at in ten minutes, so just go on and make yourself to home. We can talk more once the meeting is done." Sam said.
     Sam watched Luke leave and then went to his partner's office Myria Pantera.
 Myria sat on a plush couch, in front of a small fireplace with a blazing fire, reading a book. She looked up when she heard someone enter her office.
     "Sammy darling, is something wrong?" Myria asked.
Sam smiled. "No, everything is perfect XK-49 works like a charm, it just took a few dosages."
     "Really?" Myria questioned, her eyes green eyes sparkling, as she laid the book she was reading down.
     "Yeah. Luke just came in and told me all about a fight he had with his cousin Bo, dang near broke the boy's neck." Sam said.
Myria stood up and walked over to Sam, sliding her arms around his neck. "I knew the drug would work."
     "If he'd attack his cousin Bo, he'd attack anyone without another thought. Considering before this they were best friends and extremely close." Sam said.
Myria kissed Sam on the lips. "Now the rest of the pieces of the plan will just fall into place."
     "With Luke's mind in our control there is nothing to stop us. With his Marine training and driving skills all our dreams will be meet." Sam said.
     "How can we be sure that we have full control of Luke's mind?" Myria asked.
Sam thought about her question for a moment and then smiled. "There is one way that we can be absolutely sure, we will have him kill his cousin Bo while we watch."
Myria smiled and laughed. "I just love how you mind works."
     Sam went and found Luke; they talked for several minutes, before Sam brought up the subject to bring Bo there.
     "You know perhaps you should bring your cousin here, if he were to met us I am sure he'd see that we are not all that bad, nobody could be that blind." Sam said.
Luke nodded. "Okay. Though I don't know if he will be too willing to go anywhere with me."
     "So then make him come." Sam said.
     "Yeah. Okay one way or another I will bring Bo here, even if I have to hog tie him." Luke said.
     "See you in a little while." Sam said.
Luke nodded and waved to Sam as he left.
     Bo didn't even hear the General outside the house. He sat quietly on the couch his head leaned back against the soft cushions, a cold towel across his eyes. The intense pain in his head had fizzled down to a dull throb. Bo heard the floorboards creak and lift his head to see who was there, catching the damp towel with his hand. A momentary look of fright passed over his eyes when he saw Luke standing there.
     "I want you to come with me." Luke said, his voice firm and demanding.
     "Why should I? What are you going to do if I don't, beat me up again?"
     "If you would just come and meet the people Zaltic you'd see that they aren't such bad people." Luke said, his voice still firm and unwavering.
     "I don't want to have anything to do with them. So just go on and run back to them, 'cause I ain't going nowheres with you." Bo said.
     "You ARE coming with me, even if I have to hog tie ya." Luke said.
Bo stood up. "Like I said cousin, I ain't going anywhere with you."
Luke walked over to Bo, he stared at him with eyes that were empty of emotion. Bo turned to walk away when he felt the tip of Luke's pocketknife press against his stomach.
     "You ARE coming with me."
Bo stared at Luke questioningly. "Just what is your problem?"
     "Nothing. And you'll have no problem as long as you come with me." Luke said.
Bo sighed; deciding it was best not to fight with Luke the way he was acting Bo figured Luke really would cut him.
     "Fine you win." Bo said.
     "Don't I always?"
 Bo sat quietly staring out the passenger side window, his mind raced with thoughts he could never begin to express. Thoughts of the past, the close friendship he and Luke had always had, now he didn't even know his cousin. Luke pulled to stop at the gate; Fred just opened the gate and waved him in, not stopping to talk this time. Luke parked the General and climbed out.
     "C'mon get moving." Luke said.
Bo mumbled under his breath and climbed out. He followed Luke to Sam's office.
     "Ah, Luke nice to see you didn't take you too long." Sam said.
Bo stared at Sam with cold hateful eyes.
     "Do you have a problem young man?" Sam asked, in a faked tone of innocence.
     "Dang right I do." Bo said. "I don't much like being in the company of a dirty rotten pole cat."
     "That ain't very nice Bo." Sam said.
     "Yeah, so?" Bo asked.
Luke grabbed Bo by the back of the neck squeezing firmly. "Apologize."
     "Not a chance." Bo said.
Luke squeezed tighter and Bo gasped in pain, Luke slammed his other fist against the small of Bo's back. Bo flinched at the pain, Luke loosened his grip allowing Bo to fall to the floor.
     "Say you’re sorry."
     "No."
Luke kicked Bo in the ribs, Bo collapsed to the floor holding his ribs, gasping to catch his breath.
     "Not here Luke, I don't any blood on my carpet. Let's take him downstairs, there is catacombs below the building." Sam said.
Luke nodded, then grabbed Bo by the back of his neck and hauled Bo to his feet. He followed Sam, roughly leading Bo along down to the catacombs.
      They stopped in a small cell like room. Luke flung Bo against the wall. Bo slammed against the rocky wall and slumped to the floor, trying to tell himself this had to be a nightmare, Luke would never hurt him. Bo looked up at Luke locking eyes with the cousin he loved as a brother.
     "Don't do this Luke." Bo said softly.
     "You had your chance Bo, I guess the only way you'll learn is have it beat into you." Luke said, his voice cold and uncaring.
Luke pulled Bo to his feet and handcuffed him to chains that hung from the ceiling. Bo's feet could just brush against the ground. Luke took out his knife and held it up to Bo's face. Bo shuddered as the cold blade of the knife pressed against his cheek, he could see the faint glimmer of the pale light, in the room, reflecting off the knife. Bo bit his lip to keep from screaming as Luke sliced the knife down along Bo's cheek, drawing a trail of blood. Sam handed Luke a whip, which Luke struck Bo with several times across the chest and back. Bo bit his lip to keep from crying out in pain, he could feel a few tears slip down his cheek, the saltiness of the tears stung the cut on his face. Luke unchained Bo, and Bo fell limply to the ground. Luke grabbed Bo, slamming him against the wall. Bo moaned in pain, as his head struck the wall.
     "Luke . . . please . . . don't do this cousin." Bo begged.
     "Make him suffer before you kill him, no quick death for the likes of him." Sam said.
Luke nodded, and Bo's eyes widened with a deep emotional pain. Luke pinned Bo against the wall, with one hand around his throat. He slid on a pair of pointed brass knuckles, and punched Bo as hard as he could several times.  Finally Luke let go of Bo, and it was all Bo could do to keep from slumping over, he watched Luke raise the knife.
     "No . . . please Luke . . .don't." Bo said, his voice soft and weak.
Luke ignored Bo, plunging the knife into Bo's shoulder. Bo cried out in pain as the knife tore through his left shoulder, hot stabbing pain shooting through his arm. Luke pulled the knife back, Bo's blood coating his hands. Bo slumped to the ground, trembling in pain.
     "Finish him." Sam said.
Luke raised the knife to do as Sam said then stopped, looking down at his younger cousin's trembling, bleeding form.
     "Bo . . ." Luke said softly.
Luke began to tremble and he dropped the knife, the full memory of what he had done burned in his mind. Luke's mouth moved, but no words came out, he began to tremble.
     "Damn." Sam swore under his breath, he went over to Luke and pulled him to his feet.
Luke looked at the older man still too stunned to speak, knowing it was something Sam had done to him that made him hurt Bo. Sam drug Luke from the room and locked him in a cell, it was larger then the other room.
     Luke pounded his fists against the solid rock wall cursing himself for being so blind. He blamed himself for the pain he had caused Bo to endure. Luke continued to pound his fists against the wall until his hands began to bleed and his arms went numb. He slumped to the floor, fighting back the tears of rage and pain that burned in his eyes. Luke leaned against the cold damp wall, wondering if Bo was even still alive. Luke looked down at his hands, and in the pale light the in small cell, he could see the blood that coated them. Blood that was not only his but Bo's as well. Their blood merged together becoming one, the sight reminded Luke of when her and Bo had become blood brothers. unable to hold back the tears and longer. Luke's tears began to course down his cheeks. Luke slumped to one side allowing himself to fall to the floor. Luke pulled himself into a fetal position and just cried.
     Sam slammed the door as he went into the room that Myria was in. She looked up, her eyes questions.
     “Didn’t it go the way you planned?” Myria asked.
     “It was but then Luke seemed to break through the drug and stopped. He pounded on him and was just about to kill him, when suddenly his mind just seemed to snap back into place.” Sam said.
     “What do we do now?” Myria asked.
     “Try again. Once we can get him to kill his cousin his mind is ours to shape and form to out desire, just like clay.” Sam said.
     “Do you think he will carry through with it?” Myria asked.
     “Just have to up the dosage.” Sam said.
     “What if he refuses to take it?” Myria asked.
     “We threaten his cousin’s life. Right now his mind is his own and he’d do anything to protect his little cousin . . . that is if Bo lives that long.” Sam said. “Though if  he dies Luke will be broken so we will either be able to mold his mind or dispose of him. His mind might just snap and he’d be worthless.”
     “How is Luke doing?” Myria asked.
Sam shrugged. “He was kind of out of it, though he knew what he did to his cousin.”
     “What are we going to do with the both of them?” Myria asked.
     “You can go done and fix Bo up a little, I think having him alive would be best. Perhaps try to gain his trust, that could be useful. Then we’ll be kind we’ll let Luke have his little cousin in with him . . . though I am not too sure Bo will want to be around Luke.” Sam said.
     “That friendship, over?”
     “At least to Bo, I think I don’t see how Bo would want to be around Luke after Luke tried to kill him.” Sam said.
     “Would it do good to drug Bo as well, perhaps he could be useful.” Myria suggested.
Sam shook his head. “All I want is Luke, he has the training.”
     “Well darling let’s go down there and get on with the plan.” Myria said, brushing her hand across Sam’s chest as she walked past.
Myria changed her clothes to look like she was just a worker at Zaltic and not the owner’s wife, and then walked into the cell with Bo. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of the blood, she hated to get dirty and despised the thought of touching blood, but she knew it was all apart of Sam’s plan so she couldn’t say no. Bo woke up when he felt soft fingers brush against his cheeks. Bo groggily opened his eyes, a fog still seemed to hang over his mind, and he couldn’t focus. Bo raised his head to see who was there, but even that little of movement sent pain through his entire body and slumped back down against the ground.
    “Shh it’s okay I’m here to help you.” Myria said.
    “Who are you?” Bo asked.
    “My name is Myria, I work here as a nurse.” Myria said, half of her statement being a lie. “C’mon I’ll help ya to sit so I can tend to your injures.”
Bo felt like he was spinning the opposite direction from what the Earth was spinning as he sat up, his body trembling from the pain. Bo leaned against the wall and closed his eyes as Myria tend to his injures. He could hear her talking but was too lost in his own thoughts to hear what she was saying. Bo groaned in pain as she stitched his left shoulder and bandaged it, it was the worst of injures, at least those that visible, the worst being the pain in his heart.
     Just as Myria finished Sam walked into the room.
     “That will be quite enough Myria, you can go now.” Sam said.
     “Yes sir.” Myria said getting up and quickly leaving the room, wanting to do nothing more then to get cleaned up.
Sam walked over and stood in front of Bo. Bo looked up at the older man, anger and hate flashing in his dark blue eyes.
     “You don’t like me very much, do you?”
     “No sir, I don’t.” Bo replied, his voice edged with anger.
Sam only smiled and shook his head. “I am not the one you should hate. I am not the one who laid a beating on you.”
Bo looked away from Sam, not knowing how to reply to Sam’s last comment.
     “No come back?” Sam questioned. “I guess that is because you know it to be the truth. Luke is the reason you are in pain.”
Bo looked up at Sam, narrowing his eye at him. “You had to have done something to him like . . . drugged him or something.”
Bo didn’t noticed Sam’s smile falter. ‘Kid’s a lot smarter then he looks.’ Sam thought to himself. “No Bo I didn’t do anything to Luke, all his actions are his own choice. I am sure you saw that for yourself.”
     “Luke wouldn’t . . . he wouldn’t do that.” Bo said.
    “Don’t lie to yourself kid, your older cousin ain’t the person you think him to be. Admit it.” Sam said.
Bo wondered if it was true, was it simply that Luke wasn’t the person he had always thought him to be. Luke had been acting different lately and didn’t seem at all forced in to doing anything. He remembered seeing into Luke’s eyes, Luke’s eyes were clear, showing no sign that he had been drugged, he could only see anger and hate in Luke’s pale blue eyes. It nearly broke Bo’s heart to think that Sam was right about Luke, though he still didn’t trust the older man. He tried to convince himself that there was no way that Luke could go through such a change personality so quickly, but his head was pounding and his whole body ached, making thinking straight impossible. Sam and Bo talked for nearly another twenty minutes and Bo began to believe that Luke really was like Sam told him, cold and heartless, Bo no longer believed any of the lies Luke had once told him, no longer believed in his friendship.  The cousin he once considered his best friend, his brother, the cousin he looked up to, practically worshiping the ground he walked on who he had complte and total blind faith in he now saw as being his worst enemy.  Darkness slowly over took Bo’s mind and he slumped over to the floor.  Sam smiled and he bent down and picked Bo up, carrying him to the cell Luke was in.
     Luke raised his head slightly when he heard the door up, looking to see who was there, dried tears stained his cheeks, dried blood was caked on to his hands, and his clothes were covered in dust and dirt, as the floor and walls were made of rock. The second Luke saw Bo his heart leapt for joy, but that joy was short lived when he saw how limp Bo’s body was and he wondered for a moment if his younger cousin was even still breathing.  Sam dumped Bo’s body to the ground in the middle of the room and then turned and left. Luke stood up slowly, his head pounding, feeling as though it was the proverbial morning after the night before. Luke sat on the floor next to Bo, carefully rolling his younger cousin unto his back. Bo’s body seemed limp and lifeless, and Luke’s heart was beating rapidly in his chest, he knew that if Bo died he had nobody to blame but himself, he was the one who had caused Bo this pain and in his mind there was no excuse for that. With a shaky hand Luke reached forward to check Bo’s pulse, giving a sigh of relief when he found one, slow and steady but it meant that Bo was alive.  Luke noticed that all of Bo’s injures had been attended to and was glad to see that but wished that Bo would wake up. He wondered if when Bo woke up he would hate him, Luke felt he almost deserved to lose Bo’s friendship. Luke laid Bo’s head gently unto his lap, not knowing what else to do beside wait for his younger cousin to wake up.
     Thirty minutes later Bo started to wake up, moaning softly. He slowly opened his eyes, his vision taking a minute to adjust to dim light.  His heart started to beat rapidly with fear when he saw Luke sitting there, and he sat straight up, the quick movement sending a wave of pain through his body, Bo grimaced at the pain.
     “It’s okay Bo, just calm down.” Luke said.
     “Don’t tell me what to do.” Bo said through clenched teeth.
Luke put a hand on Bo’s shoulder and Bo jerked away.
     “Don’t touch me. Don’t you think you’ve already done enough?”
     “Bo, I am sorry . . . I didn’t mean to.” Luke said.
     “Yeah right.” Bo said, his voice full of sarcasm.
     “Bo look at me.” Luke said.
Bo slowly turned his head to look at his cousin and Luke could clearly see the pain, distrust and worse of all the fear in Bo’s eyes. The fear in Bo’s eyes, the fear of him, cut through Luke’s heart with a knife.
     “Bo . . .” Luke started to say and then realized he didn’t even know where to begin to tell Bo how sorry he was. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence before Luke spoke again. “I am sorry.”
     “I don’t believe you.” Bo said flatly.
     “Bo I . . .” Luke started to say, but Bo cut his sentence short.
     “I don’t believe anything you have to say.” Bo said.
     “Look I know there is no excuse for what I did . . .”
     “You’re right about that.” Bo said.
     “I didn’t mean to Bo, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.” Luke said.
     “I no longer believe you.” Bo said, his whole was still in pain and staying sitting up was getting harder with each passing second, his body swaying back and forth.
     “I know that I don’t deserve your friendship or your trust, but please believe me when I tell you that I never meant to do what I did, I wouldn’t hurt you. I don’t know why I have done anything that I have did the past few days . . . it is like my actions aren’t my own.”
Bo could see sincerity in Luke’s eyes, but he reminded himself that he had been tricked by his older cousin’s lies before. Though deep in his heart he longed to believe what Luke was saying was true, in no longer felt able to tell what was the truth and what was a lie. Bo stared at his cousin for a moment longer then his body seemed to just give out on him and he slumped forward against his cousin. Luke gently put his arms around Bo, pulling his cousin into a protective hug. Bo laid his head against the inside of Luke’s shoulder, feeling too weak to pull away. Bo could feel his mind drifting back towards sleep, and could no longer keep his eyes open.
     “Why?” Bo asked, the last word from his mouth before he feel back into an unconscious state.
Luke knew exactly what Bo was asking, a question he didn’t know the answer to.
     “I don’t know Bo, I really don’t know.” Luke said softly, fighting back the fresh tears that burned in his eyes.
 Sam and Myria stood on the other side of the closed door, watching trough a small window.
     “Looks like plan didn’t work Sammy.” Myria said.
     “On the contrary my love, it worked perfectly.” Sam said.
Myria raised her eyebrows in question.
     “Just look at Luke, he is so worried about his cousin’s wellbeing and he is deeply hurt by Bo’s distrust.  His mind will be weak and the drug will work a lot better that way.” Sam said.
Myria smiled. “I can hardly wait. When are you starting Luke on the XK-49 again?” Myria asked.
     “Tomorrow.” Sam said.
     “Can we go now? It is so dark and dirty down here, I much prefer our quarters.”
Sam smiled and gave a small laugh. “Yes I know you do. Let’s go.”
     It was nearly hour before Bo started to wake up, every muscle cried in pain and he tried hard not to think about what had happened. For a moment  Bo felt safe, but that feeling didn’t last long as the memories of what had happened came crashing down on him and he pulled away from Luke, not even looking at his older cousin.  Luke put a hand on Bo’s shoulder, and his heart felt heavy when Bo jerked away.
     “Bo I am sorry, whether you want to believe it or not I am sorry for what I done.”
Bo acted as though he hadn’t even heard Luke and he went to stand up to walk away. Though as he tried to get up a fiery pain tore through his whole body and he dropped back down to the ground, breathing deeply through clenched teeth, waiting for the pain to pass. Luke reached out and put his hand on Bo’s shoulder, again Bo pulled away.
     “Leave me alone.” Bo said.
     “Bo, look at me.” Luke said.
Bo made no movement to raise his head to look at Luke.
     “C’mon Bo, just look at me would ya.”
Bo shook his head. “Just go away Luke.”
Luke put his hand gently under Bo’s chin and turned his cousin’s head to face him. Bo diverted his gaze, refusing to look at Luke.
     “Please Bo, just look at me.” Luke said, his voice pleading.
Bo looked at Luke, and Luke could see a deep pain in Bo’s eyes, a pain that was not only physical but also emotional. Bo locked eyes with his older cousin and what he saw in Luke’s pale eyes was the cousin he had always known. Bo could feel his resistance wearing thin, and reminded himself that he had already been hurt by Luke’s lies and he refused to get hurt again.
     “Bo, I know that I hurt you and there is nothing that can take that away, but please just give me a chance to tell my side of it. I know you hate me, but I don’t want you hating me to the point you won’t even admit that we are kin.” Luke said, removing his hand from under Bo’s chin.
     “What do you care anyways?” Bo asked.
     “Bo I care . . . you know I care. “ Luke said, and then saw in Bo’s eyes that Bo no longer believed that he care. “I care Bo, you are like a brother to me and I hate the thought of losing you.”
Bo could feel himself being drug in, by what he felt were lies, though he tried hard to keep from believing in what Luke said, determined not to be fooled again.
     “I don’t know why I have done anything that I have the past few days. It is like my actions aren’t even my own . . . I can’t understand why I even did what I done. I feel like I didn’t have control over my own thoughts . . . kinda like I was drugged.” Luke said, then realized that was the mostly likely answer Sam must have drugged him.  “That is the only answer I can think of, I know that I would never hurt you on my own freewill . . . I just wish you would believe that.”
     “I don’t know what to believe anymore.” Bo said.
Luke wasn’t sure what to tell Bo, he knew that he couldn’t force Bo to believe him. Bo hung his head down and thought about it, this thoughts spinning rapidly in his mind, his heart seemed to cry out for him to listen to Luke, a million thoughts and memories seemed to spin through his mind in a matter of seconds. Luke put his hand on Bo’s shoulder and this time Bo didn’t pull away. Bo looked up at his cousin, holding back the tears the burned in his eyes.
     “I am sorry Bo.” Luke said.
Bo only nodded, saying nothing and Luke knew that Bo once again believed what he was saying. Luke pulled his younger cousin into a brotherly hug, being carefully not to bump Bo’s injured shoulder. Bo slid his right arm around Luke, in way of saying all was forgiven. Bo sat back and looked at Luke.
     “Now what?” Bo questioned.
Luke thought about Bo’s question for a moment and then shrugged. “I don’t know.”
The two of them sat in silence for nearly ten minutes before Sam came back. Bo and Luke looked up when the heard the door unlock, and squeak open on it’s rusty old hinges. Sam walked into the room a wide evil smile on his lips, hiding his disappointment that the boys seemed to have worked out their problem. Sam remained standing by the door, just staring at Bo and Luke.
    “What do you want?” Luke asked, his voice edge with suspicious anger.
    “Now Luke is that any way to talk to a friend?” Sam asked.
    “You ain’t no friend of mine.” Luke said.
    “Come here Luke, we need to go and have ourselves a nice talk . . . in private.” Sam said.
Bo looked at Luke worriedly, as Luke stood up. Luke mouthed the words ‘It’ll be okay.’ Bo watched as his cousin left the cell with Sam, then moving carefully, and ignored the pain, he made his way over to the wall, leaning against the hard, cold, rocky surface, praying that Luke would be okay.
     Luke sat down on a chair in Sam’s office, Sam say inches in front of him, on another chair.
     “What do you want?” Luke asked.
     “To make a little . . . deal with you.” Sam said.
     “Let Bo go first and then I’ll discuss making any kind of a deal.” Luke said.
     “You brought your cousin here yourself.” Sam said.
Luke narrowed his eyes at the older man. “Just what is your game.”
Sam smiled. “Before I tell you I think we should discuss your cousin’s situation.”
     “What do you mean by that?” Luke asked.
     “He’ll be fine, if you cooperate and don’t try anything foolish, other then that he’ll go through more pain then what you inflicted on him.” Sam said.
A cold rage flashed across Luke’s eyes. “You low down . . .”
Sam cut Luke’s sentence off. “Now be nice Luke.”
     “Drop dead.” Luke said coldly.
     “The only one who’ll be dropping dead, if you don’t start cooperating, is your dear little cousin Bo.” Sam said.
     “What do you want me to do?” Luke asked, refusing to be responsible for any more pain to be inflicted on Bo.
Sam smiled, believing that his plan had worked. He took a small bad from his pocket that contained three small green pills.         “Take these.”
     “What are they?” Luke asked.
     “Nothing too harmful. I slipped them to you before, but I figured this time you’d be less apt to eat or drink anything I gave you.” Sam said.
     “So you had drugged me.” Luke said.
     “You catch on quickly don’t you. I figured that you knew that much, at least after the drug lost its hold on you.” Sam said.
     “What is it?” Luke asked.
     “XK-49.” Sam said.
     “Which is . . .?”
     “That is all you need to know about them.” Sam said.
     “Then I ain’t taking them.” Luke said.
     “If you don’t I’ll go force fed them to Bo.” Sam said.
Luke sighed and took the pills from Sam, swallowing each of them. Only moments after he took them he felt lightheaded, and felt a fog settle over his mind. Sam smiled seeing how quickly the drugs took effect, but decided not to push Luke like last time. He knew it was only a matter of time before he’d have complete control of Luke’s mind, and was sure that this time he could get Luke to end Bo’s life.
     “If I were you I wouldn’t go mentioning these pills to Bo.” Sam said.
Luke gave a small nod, Sam’s words seemed to almost be is own thoughts.
     Luke was taken back to the cell, the door quickly shut and locked behind him. Luke walked across the room and sat down next to Bo.
     “Are you okay?” Bo asked, his concern obvious in his voice.
     “I’m fine.” Luke replied, in a tone that was void of any emotion.
     “You don’t look so good.” Bo said. “Are you sure that you’re okay?”
     “I said I am fine.” Luke said, his voice edged with agitation.
     “Well sorry I asked.” Bo said.
     “I didn’t mean to snap at you like that Bo, sorry. I guess I am just feeling a little stressed out is all.” Luke said.
     “It’s okay, guess I know how you feel.” Bo said. “What happened?”
     “Nothing, Sam just wanted to talk.” Luke said.
Bo looked at Luke skeptically.
     “Just don’t worry about it Bo.” Luke said.
     “I think I got the right to be worried Luke. I am involved in this to, so tell me what really did happen.”
     “It’s nothing Bo.”
     “Stop lying to me, I have enough of that lately.” Bo said, his words sounding more accusing then he had meant them to.
     “I told you I was sorry. And I am not lying now, nothing happened so just forget about it.” Luke said.
     “That’s a lot easier said then done cousin.” Bo said.
     “Look, just don’t worry about it okay? I am not going to allow you to get hurt again. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
     “Whatever.”
     Luke closed his eyes, he felt groggy, like a cold foggy had settled over his body and mind. His thoughts spun rapidly in his head, some thoughts making no sense as though they were nothing but gibberish, some were pleasant thoughts of times in the past when his life was normal. Other thoughts were of the current situation and there were thoughts that were so cold and dark they frightened him. All these thoughts seemed to spin through his mind at a million miles a second.  He could hear Bo saying something, but couldn’t make out his words, the next thing Luke knew darkness slipped over his mind, dropping him into unconsciousness. Bo leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, he had been thinking a lot about everything that had been going on and he doubted that this time that he and Luke would get out of this mess. He could tell that Luke was in no condition to think up an escape plan, and he had the feeling that Luke was being drugged again.
     Sam had installed a camera to view the cell at all times, to watch over Bo and Luke. He and Myria were delighted to watch the boys relationship slowly deteriorate and doubted it would be long before Luke’s mind was theirs to mold.
    Over the next few days, Luke fought hard against the drug, he knew if he lost the battle that he would also lose his cousin. The battle slowly became harder and harder with each passing day, his temper grew shorter, Bo tried to be careful not to say anything that might anger Luke, though his own nerves were shot. They had a few minor fights, Bo was always the one to back down, he knew while Luke was drugged that he could never win the fight and Luke would take further then he cared to.
     It was just a week and a half later, and Bo paced around the cell, he hated being in their alone. He wondered exactly what they did to Luke when he was gone. He thought that they were drugging him or something. His mind wandered with endless possibilities of what could be going on, and he wished he had even half as many ideas on how to escape. At times he even had thoughts that Luke was actually in on everything and was conspiring against him, or sitting back and laughing at him, though he tried hard to push those thoughts out of his mind.
    The cell door opened and Luke walked in, he didn’t even look at Bo he only walked over to the wall and sat down. Bo walked over and sat down next to Luke.
    “How are you doing?” Bo asked.
    “Fine.” Luke replied shortly.
Bo hated the constant silence and just wanted to talk to Luke the way they always had, but had no idea of what to say to Luke, starting a conversation lately was extremely hard.
     “Luke?”
     “Yeah what?” Luke asked, with a slight note of irritation to his voice.
     “I just thought maybe we could talk . . . it’s far to quiet in here.” Bo said.
     “I like the quiet, that way I don’t have to hear your annoying voice.” Luke said.
Bo frowned, but chose to ignore what Luke said. “We haven’t hardly talked in days . . . I miss talking to you cousin, you are my best friend and I miss talking to you.”
     “Yeah well I don’t want to talk to you, I rather like the silence.” Luke said.
Bo sighed softly. “Just what have they done to you?”
     “Nothing.” Luke said. “Don’t you ever shut up?”
     “I just want to talk.” Bo said.
     “Yeah well I don’t.” Luke said, and roughly drove his elbow into Bo’s throat.
Bo coughed and tried to breathe, which he could barely do as Luke kept the pressure to his throat. Bo tried to shove Luke away but his attempts were futile. Bo’s eyes rolled back and he passed out. Luke removed his arm, and Bo’s body limply slumped forward.
     “That’ll learn ya to keep quiet.” Luke said.
     The days passed slowly and Luke’s temper grew more violent. Bo curled up on the floor on the cell, shivering partly from the cold and partly from fear. He knew the battle had been lost. He could almost sense his own death, it seemed to linger in the air, constantly creeping closer. He felt as though he was no more then a caged animal awaiting slaughter. He knew whenever he saw Luke now that the person he was seeing was no longer truly his cousin, Luke had been lost.
     The door opened and Luke and Sam both stepped into the cell. Bo didn’t even so much as glance up at them, he knew the time of his death was at hand.  Luke walked over to Bo and grabbed him by the back of the neck, roughly hauling him to his feet. Bo glared angrily at Sam.
     “You won’t get away with this.” Bo said.
     “That’s were you’re wrong. We already have, there is nobody to stop us.” Sam said.
Bo didn’t even try to plead with Luke to listen to him, he knew it would do no good.
     Bo allowed himself to be drug from the cell to a much smaller room. His hands and feet were shackled to the wall. Bo watched as Sam handed Luke a long slender sword. He watched his cousin for a moment, thinking how clouded Luke’s eyes looked. Bo knew that he could not escape death, though he no longer feared dying. Luke stepped forward to stand inches in front of Bo.
     “I forgive you for this Luke. You are still my best friend, still my brother.” Bo said softly. “See ya on the flip side.”
Bo closed his eyes as Luke raised the knife. Bo clenched his jaw tightly and refused to cry out as the sword became impaled in his right shoulder. Luke pulled the sword back, it glistened, in what little light filled the room, with Bo’s blood. Bo kept his eyes closed tightly, not actually wanting to witness his death at the hands of the person who meant the most to him. Luke made several more cuts, but Bo still did not cry out in pain. He could feel his life slowly fading away as his life’s blood dripped from his body.
     “Finish him off Luke.” Sam ordered.
Without a moment’s hesitation Luke raised the sword and plunged it through Bo’s heart, instantly killing him.
     Nearly an hour later, Luke sat in Sam’s office, along with Sam and Myira.
     “I am proud of how well you ended your cousin’s life.” Sam said.
     “It was actually far too easy.” Luke said, his voice void of any emotion.
Myria stepped forward and lightly kissed Luke’s cheek. “That is so good to hear you say.”
Myria stepped over to Sam, who slid his arm around his wife. He looked at her smiling face.
     “Luke’s mind is ours to mold.” Sam said, not caring that Luke was siting right there, as there was no longer anything he could do on his own freewill.
Myria smiled. “Now the really fun begins.”
     “Yes it does.” Sam said, and stepped over to Luke, handing him a file, “Now let’s discuss who I want you to kill next.”
     “Yes sir.” Luke replied.
     Sam and Myria had succeeded in their plan, XK-49, the mind drug, had worked perfectly, Luke’s mind was theirs to mold. His marine training proving useful to them, his knowledge of how to kill being the tool they desired. Luke no longer had any control of his actions, not thoughts of his own. The Luke everyone had known had been lost, and he never even shed a single tear for his dead cousin and never would.