by M A Scrawl
She woke up and sluggishly wiped the drool from her mouth, looking around in confusion. She had received the most darts, making the process to recovery harder. There were no known cases of any reactions (so the nurses said), and it was quite safe for the body...supposedly.
She smiled at Kadir, looking tipsy.
“Did we beat da bad guy?" she asked, words slurred. Kadir smiled and nodded in her direction. She tried to stand, but stumbled and fell, laughing uncontrollably on the floor.
Quentin looked helplessly at Kadir, and Kadir shrugged.
Katy still lay on the floor, groping with her hands to one of the bunks.
"Back in the tin can are we?" she said slowly.
Kadir shook his head. "Withers gave us our own bunker room next to the gym, we're not prisoners anymore." He didn't know if the words would register in her brain at the moment, and she seemed not to hear him.
"Does anyone wanna go to tha...tha...whats it called?" she asked Kadir. He thought a moment. "Gym?" he answered. Katy nodded enthusiastically. "Yay! Gym! I've heard about the gym-m-m dontcha know?"
Quentin grimaced, and lifted Katy easily over his shoulder, placing her gently on the couch. She started closing her eyes and opening them in succession, before finally, blissfully, she went to sleep, a line of drool coming down her cheek. "She really did get a lot of sedation didn't she?" Quentin asked. Kadir nodded.
"I wonder what everyone here thinks of us," Quentin mused, walking over to an area next to the couch, where a kitchen sat, complete with small microwave, sink, and refrigerator. "Hey!" Quentin exclaimed, "Our cell didn't have a refrigerator!"
Kadir smiled. He was happy for the moment, and also tired, but he knew that he needed to know what really happened before, and most importantly why they couldn't remember anything. Was it some result of amnesia or something like that? The farthest he could think back is waking up in that horrible cryo-pod....needles....
Kadir looked up, spotting for the first time something in the refrigerator. Immediately, an image popped up, spelling out words.
“Hot..pockets,” Kadir mouthed out slowly, reading from his mind.
Intrigued, he followed the instructions and ate some along with Quentin. He gestured towards Katy. "She's still asleep!"
Kadir figured out how to turn on the screen in front of the couch that was connected to the wall, same as their detainment cell, except this one could be controlled by the person touching it, not anyone else.
The first and only screen that came up was a screen labeled "Alert Screen." Kadir tried to go on to other channels, but another screen came up. A green screen with a white lock in the middle. White letters spelled out ‘Access Lock.’ Kadir sighed.
Kadir turned it off and turned to see Quentin searching about. He noticed Kadirs’ eyes turned towards him and he shrugged. "Looking to see if we have a view of space." Kadir shook his head, "we're somewhere in the middle of this satellite, and if we wanna see anything we've gotta go to the outside of it."
Hearing a noise, he turned to the couch where Katy was softly snoring. He smiled and fell down in his bed, suddenly exhausted at what he'd been doing all that day. He grinned. He was finally out of a cage and all he wanted to do was lie down? Katy would probably have a good exclamation for that when she woke up. He closed his eyes, and fell asleep, slightly rubbing the bandages on his chest and arm where the needles had punctured.
-Chapter 21-
-Caspian Bard-
Withers hated doing this, but he really had to. He HAD to explain why he had included children's clothes in the resource drop. Someone was bound to notice down on Earth, and he'd rather fess up to it then be caught red-handed, hiding super clones from the U.S. He couldn't hide them for long, but he hoped he could hold them for longer.
Withers turned on his desk by placing his hand on the large screen it held, wincing as the light hit his eyes. He'd probably get a headache from this, but it had to be done. A keyboard of buttons appeared on the screen. He pressed a glowing red button on the screen, and waited...
A few minutes later, a display showed up, showing the face of a man. Caspian Bard was a tall, muscular man with a full beard and frizzy hair. He had a deep, intimidating voice, and worked in the CIA.
"Withers!" Bard boomed, his voice coming across the screen. "Why did you call me to a voice meeting today?"
Withers opened his mouth, but hesitated. Caspian raised an eyebrow. "I have a secret on board the Facility," Withers began finally. "I can't tell anyone else, simply out of a lack of tests run on the subject, and out of a lack of trust."
Caspian leaned forward onto his screen, hundreds of miles below. Withers hesitated again. There would be no going back from this.
"Well?" Caspian asked after a long pause. "What is this terrible secret?"
"I have come into contact with...uh...clones."
"Clones!" Caspian roared, leaning in even further to the screen. "Are you serious Withers?" Withers nodded. "Well Withers! You know that kind of tech could stop any kind of war that the other nations are planning!"
"Or trigger it," Withers mumbled. He usually never felt undermined, or intimidated, but he always was with Caspian Bard. Was he just like that?
Caspian looked at Withers with surprise. "Come now?! You know this is something that could change the outcome of the next forty years!"
"But," Withers said firmly. "I want this to be kept confidential to just you and me in case this goes badly." Caspian raised an eyebrow, but he agreed, nodding his head.
"Are the clones alive?" Withers nodded. "Are they are strong and healthy?" Withers reluctantly nodded. "Then gracious man! Begin training them immediately! That, is an order!"
Wither nodded and turned off the screen. The headache was there, but it would go away. There would always be the chance that Caspian would report Withers’ neglection to contact the U.S, but for the moment Caspian was the head of the CIA. Withers hoped he didn’t just make a mistake. If he did, the clones would be condemned to a life of tests and war.
They must NEVER escape to Earth.
Kirby entered from the office door, Withers verifying that she could actually enter. She did so, lugging even more paperwork to do. Withers sighed, and got out his pen. This was going to be a long, LONG day.
-Chapter 22-
-Caheel-
David Caheel was usually calm. Today, he was not that at all.
The other S.S.S. on board Facility C were never actually doing their job. They just lounged about, trying to look like they were doing something when, in reality, they were just being lazy.
Caheel hated laziness.
When he had asked some of the soldiers why they didn't do their jobs with their expected crispness, they had answered that there just wasn't enough action.
Caheel had agreed there wasn't enough action, so to make that change, he'd punched the man several times in the face. Stupid, inconsiderate soldiers with no semblance of strength.
Caheel stalked along in his S.S.S. outfit, a pistol at his side holding real rounds, and his rifle, which shot tranqs. He had sandy blonde hair, and must've broken his nose several times in his lifetime. He had heard of the children that had somehow escaped a detainment cell and rendered several S.S.S. incapable.
He nodded angrily at a passing S.S.S. and continued on his way, heading for the Facility C Cafeteria. He passed several men, who looked at him warily. They had probably heard of the man who had been beaten down by him. They knew not to touch him.
He made it to the cafeteria, and was about to get out a dish of food, when his name came across a speaker in the ceiling. "S.S.S. David Caheel, summoned to Control Deck, S.S.S. David Caheel, summoned to Control Deck."
Caheel grumbled, not able to even get a bite to eat before he turned around, heading for the Control Deck.
When he got there, he found the Overseer, along with the Assistant Overseer at the Control Deck, waiting for him.
"Sir!" Caheel said, snapping to attention. Withers raised an eyebrow, glanc
ing down at a sheaf of papers in his hand. "You've got a bad history Caheel," Withers said, still looking down at his papers. "You've had a bad history of bullying as a child, as well as several fistfights since you've been in the military." He looked up. "I can't see how you even made it to this branch of soldier."
"I made myself the best soldier I could be sir!" Caheel said, eyes straight. Withers nodded. "Maybe the best killer. You have an amazing record of training, despite the behavioral problems."
Caheel stiffened, grinding his teeth. Withers raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. "I will not have abuse set on my satellite Mr. Caheel." Caheel nodded grudgingly, wondering who ratted on him. "There will be certain punishments for what you did."
Caheel nodded. "What I did was inexcusable sir, and I'm ready for what I deserve." Withers raised an eyebrow and looked like he was ready to laugh. Had he gone too far?
"You, will be training a group of special individuals for reconnaissance, defense, stealth, marksmanship, and anything else you seem worthy of training them."
Caheel sputtered, then furrowed his brow in confusion. "So...Wait, sir? I'm...Training people?" Withers looked up. "You, will be training children Caheel, that will be all."
Withers turned, checking his work desk in the middle of the room. Caheel turned slowly, still confused as to what he was doing. Training children? What- oh....Those children....
-Chapter 23-
-Meeting The Beast-
Kadir woke to a blaring across some speakers in his room. He blearily opened his eyes and heard, "Kadir, Katy, Quentin, Summoned to the gym."
He got out of the bed groggily and looked around. Quentin was already awake, he looked as though he'd been awake all night. Katy took some shaking to get up, but she finally did, groggily from all the sedation she had yesterday.
They ate a little food, and went outside into the neighboring gym. They had not been in the gym yet, so as they walked through, they got a view of it. Gym equipment was scattered through the room, and the floor curved, mimicking a bowl.
A man sat in the middle of the room. He had a S.S.S. uniform on, with the black vest and white letters on the front. He stood suddenly, obviously displeased.
"You are late," the man said, angrily. Kadir wasn't sure he wanted to be in the same room with this man...ever.
Quentin spoke up, "We had to get our sister up, she's kind of groggy because of the tranquilizer she had yesterday." Katy curtly nodded and smiled, raising a shaky hand and waving.
"No excuses," the man said. "My name is Caheel. I am not your friend, I don't even want to be here, but I will be training you."
“Training?” Katy questioned. She looked as though she wanted to continue, but Caheels scowl deepened.
"Get down and give me thirty push-ups." Katy's eyes widened and for a moment she didn't move. "NOW!" Caheel yelled.
Kadir and Katy started doing push-ups, and Caheel kept hitting him on the back if he did them incorrectly. He could barely do 10, and Katy couldn't get past 2. Quentin did thirty with ease. Caheel looked surprised until he noticed the metal arms.
Kadir groaned, but Caheel threatened to punch him until he did thirty. Finally, after a hard and sweat bursting five minutes, he did thirty. Katy couldn't manage ten, and Caheel was relentless.
"Hey, Caheel, come on!" Caheel turned his glare onto Kadir. Kadir winced a little. "Katy obviously can't do thirty push-ups, we already explained she was barely able to walk yesterday!"
Caheel allowed her to stop. For a minute, there was hope that Caheel was actually nice. Then Caheel kind of crushed those hopes with his next words.
"Alright! Two miles!" Caheel started running, and Kadir followed him grudgingly, running around in circles in the gym. Next followed a grueling two hours of more push-ups, jumping jacks, and running.
Kadir could not go any further, he felt like he was about to drop. Then, right as he was about to fall, Caheel said, "More push-ups!" So, he obviously had to do those too.
Then, finally, Caheel said they could eat lunch. He gave them ten minutes and they had to eat quickly, then go back to more running, jumping, push-ups, and lifting. Kadir could feel his muscles growing tight and sweat beading down his back. Katy was worse off than he was, and Quentin did everything with ease. Quentin probably felt bad about this, but that didn't help Kadir feeling a little jealous he got the robot arms and Kadir didn't.
What seemed like hours later, and probably was, Caheel stopped, not even breaking a sweat and said that they were done. Kadir could barely move, and Katy collapsed on the floor. Caheel looked at them with disgust, turned, and went out the gym.
"J-Jerk!" Katy breathed out, gasping for air. Quentin was completely fine, and he lifted Katy over his shoulder. She patted his back thankfully.
Kadir pulled himself up, his legs feeling like slabs of meat that had been thrown onto his body. He felt tired, hungry, and angry. What was that supposed to accomplish? Was their only purpose on this satellite to be poked and prodded like lab rats?
Kadir groaned and slowly made his way, holding up his hand to stop Quentin from carrying him as well. Back in the bunker, Katy collapsed on the couch, and Kadir fell into his bed. Katy turned on the screen, looking at a cameras view of space.
Quentin was in the kitchen, probably heating up some more hot-pockets. Kadir focused on his hand, feeling energy course through him like liquid. Sparks came from his hand, and he groaned, energy gone from him. I could've shocked him in the gym, Kadir suddenly realized. Why didn't I do it? I was so busy working out that I forgot I had powers!
Quentin came out of the kitchen holding three hot-pockets. Katy touched one and drew her hand back quickly. "Yeaaaah, thats really hot Quentin."
"Oh," Quentin said, drawing it back. "Sorry about that."
"Can you actually feel anything?" Katy asked, leaning back on the couch. "Well, something like that," Quentin answered. "I can't really feel pain in my arms and legs, more like....well....notifications that something is there." He winced. "Does that make sense?”
Katy shrugged sluggishly, taking the hot-pocket back and gingerly holding it in her hands, blowing on it to cool it down. Kadir could basically feel his muscles in his chest, arms, and legs start stiffening as he laid there in his bed.
"Guys," Kadir said, accepting a hot-pocket from Quentin. "I think we're going to be doing the same exact thing tomorrow." Katy groaned on the couch, but reached out her foot to poke the screen and turn on the Alert Screen.
Kadir glanced at the time, set in the bottom right of the screen. 5:00 P.M. already? There was still some time left before lights-out, but Kadir was so sore he didn't feel like doing anything.
"Hey Quentin," Kadir asked, getting out of bed and slowly moving to the couch. "What do you remember from being woken up?” Quentin, for whatever reason, stiffened and looked down.
"I-I can't remember anything," he said, eyes still to the floor. "Yeah," Kadir replied. "Me neither."
Silence went on inside the bunker room for quite some time, everyone, except for Quentin, was too tired to say much. So, they lounged about, Quentin staring off into the air, Kadir lying down in the couch, and Katy, groaning next to him.
Kadir looked around the bunker room. The wheelchairs were folded up against the wall. He thought a moment, turned to Katy, and smiled. She cocked her head in confusion.
-----
Five minutes later, Katy, Kadir, and Quentin were speeding down the halls, whooping out to let people know to jump out of the way as they furiously pushed the wheels on the wheelchairs, speeding down Facility C. It hurt A LOT to do this, but it was fun. It seemed as though the pain faded away when they were enjoying themselves.
"Woo-hoo!" Katy yelled, still pushing the wheels to make it go faster. The floor always curved upwards like a bowl, making it seem as though they were going up a hill.
A man holding papers suddenly had to leap out of the way, narrowly avoiding crashing into the yelling Katy. He dropped all of his papers though, and looked rather displeased
with them. Quentin had no trouble working the easy wheels, each push sending him careening ahead.
Katy made a short 'oof' as she lost control and she ran, giggling, right into a grey wall. She collapsed, heaving for breath, a smile on her face. As Quentin passed her, she scrambled to pick up her wheelchair and get back in the race.
"This is amazing!!!" giggled Katy as she passed Kadir again. They turned to the left, and ran right into a marching brigade of S.S. soldiers.
Katy smiled nervously as she and Quentin stopped and slowly turned around. By then though, several soldiers had already seen them in the wheelchairs.
"Let’s wheel outta here!" Katy screamed as she began frantically pushing the wheels to go the opposite way. "AAAAAAH" Katy yelled dramatically as one of the soldiers started running after her, probably for disturbing the peace or something. Actually, now that Kadir thought about it, Withers told him to specifically not bother anybody else in Facility C. For right now though, he was willing to break some rules.
The siblings started gaining speed as they went, slowly leaving the soldiers behind to get to their room. Kadir breathed out in relief that they hadn't been caught. They might've gotten out those horrible needle things.
They turned to the right, entering a narrower hallway, and entered their bunker room to the left. Katy laughed, gasping for breath between words. "I might've thought of that myself given the chance!"
Kadir and Quentin laughed, agreeing. They all fell on the couch, exhausted. Looking at the clock on the Alert Screen, Kadir saw it was 7:37. The wheelchairs themselves had been parked right next to the door and folded up.
