"The serum. I perfected it using my own Were DNA." Herbert pointed to the red substance in the IV bags. "It took years of effort, but it's a success."
Jackson gave Herbert a slight frown. It was just disapproving enough to convey disappointment, but not strong enough to scare the man. Jackson needed information more than he needed to frighten him. "And you sold it to the government?"
Herbert shook his head vehemently, his glasses sliding down his nose again. "No, no, no. They were the only ones who would fund me. I didn't realize they were going to give them so much serum... I didn't think they were going to make them more than just Weres who happened to be soldiers."
"What did you think was going to happen?" Quent snapped, standing from Chloe and her brother. His eyes were golden and angry.
Herbert crouched lower, his shoulders hunching and his face crumpling. Jackson glared at Quent; they still needed information from the man. With a kind smile, Jackson put his hand on Herbert's shoulder, feeling him flinch at his touch.
"I understand. You didn't mean for any of this to happen. You were just trying to help. And now you can," Jackson said.
Herbert looked up, his eyes full of hope. "I can?"
"Yes. First, I need you to help Quent here get these other two soldiers out." Jackson nodded his head toward the other two tanks where the other soldiers floated in their liquid cages. "Then we need to get them off the base."
"Yes, yes! Of course!" Now that the man had a purpose, a new energy filled him. He went quickly to the computer of the nearest soldier and began to shut them down. This time Quent was ready for the soldiers' reactions and waited far enough away not to be caught in their grip.
Chloe set her brother up against the tank, walking carefully over next to Jackson.
"Dr. Hulsey, was it?" She smiled shyly. "Do you know where their clothes might be? It's awful cold outside, and I think it would be nice to have them in something more than a lab coat."
Jackson wished he could kiss her right then. She had caught on to his tone and technique, using kindness to get the man to open up instead of threats.
"Oh, of course!" Herbert beamed at her. "They're in that storage bin over there. I'll get them for you!"
"Thank you, but I'll get them myself. I think that he has some more questions for you," Chloe responded quickly. She gave him a friendly smile before turning and hurrying to a bin along the wall. Jackson watched her for a moment, and then turned back to Herbert.
"Herbert," he said, making sure he had the scientist’s attention again. "This is important. How many times have these men shifted?"
"Twice. They weren't conscious for it though. They've never been awake for a shift." Herbert's face dropped as though he had done something wrong.
Jackson let out a quiet sigh. His own transformation had been terrible and deadly. Now, he was going to have three, highly-trained soldiers, shifting into a primal state. Tomorrow night, they were all in for a brutal evening.
"I hate to be a bother, but are there any other uniforms?" Chloe interrupted as politely as she could. "These seem to have shrunk in the wash."
Jackson looked over at Blake. The man was barely contained by his uniform. Muscles pulled at the seams and his pants were an inch too short.
"What have you been feeding them?" he said softly.
"Growth hormones. Per the Colonel's instruction," Herbert answered. Jackson gave him an incredulous look. Herbert blushed, shame filling his face. "In addition to activating the Lycan gene, I was to make them more effective in combat."
"Well, this is going to be the best full moon ever," Quent snorted under his breath.
"I did it to save our species!" Herbert shouted back at him, his eyes glowing for a moment.
"That is something you should have brought up with the Council," Quent snarled back.
Jackson held up his arms between them, trying to keep the peace. He opened his mouth but before he could speak, the main lab door flung open.
Standing with a pistol pointed directly at Jackson, Colonel Bronn filled the doorway. The man's rage was palpable. Even from across the room, Jackson could see the veins in his neck popping out. Jackson reached for his gun before remembering he had given it to Chloe. He could see it laying on the floor next to Blake's empty tank.
"What the hell is going on here?" The Colonel roared. Jackson couldn't see any men behind him, and he hoped the Colonel had come to check on his pet project by himself. The last thing they needed was base guards coming to join in.
If Herbert had looked frightened at Jackson, he looked absolutely terror-stricken by Colonel Bronn. Jackson could barely breathe for the stench of fear radiating off the man in tidal waves.
"Put them back and hook them up," Bronn commanded. He aimed his gun.
Herbert took a step toward where Blake rested in front of his tank, but Jackson put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Jackson took a step in front of him, looking Colonel Bronn in the eye.