by Sybil Nelson
I sighed in relief
He gently stroked my mother's red hair before saying, “I just hope the chemicals from the chip haven't affected the baby."
"Well, fix it. What do you need to do to fix it?” I suddenly wasn't thinking of my...grandfather anymore. Instead I just wanted my baby sister to be okay.
He held up a black device to my mother's head. It looked like a simple DVD player remote.
"What was that?” I asked.
"I shut down the signal, but the chip still needs to be removed." He pulled a large needle out of a drawer then stuck it into my mother's head.
"Hey, what was that?"
"Local anesthetic. Don't worry. It won't hurt the baby. I need to make a small incision in her head in order to take out the chip. Pay attention to what I'm doing. You may need to do the same thing to the other kids."
"Me? You want me to cut people's heads open?"
"Yep." He kept working on my mother and explaining the delicate surgery. One slip of the knife could cause paralysis. I did a little nervous shiver. I didn't want to have that kind of responsibility. I hoped I would be able to explain the procedure to my dad and have him do it. "As soon as you find Peter and Katya, shut down the signal." He pointed toward the remote.
"Actually, Tai already interrupted the signal by modifying the Inhibitor Collars."
Dr. Witherall stared at me in surprise. "She did?"
I nodded.
"That's absolutely genius."
"I know right?"
"That should work for a while,” he said going back to working on my mother, “but the transmitter from the magnetic north pole may be able to override it. The chips still need to be removed."
"Great. So, I just gotta slice open my friends' heads. Got it. Can't wait."
"If Colonel Selliwood activates the transmitter every Specimen with a chip in this building, in this country, in this world will be under his immediate control,” Dr. Witherall said, ignoring my sarcasm. "It will be like he has a remote control that decides their immediate actions. You, Josh, and you're friend Tai won't be affected, but you also won't be safe. Your friends will turn against you instantly and do whatever the colonel tells them to."
"Will I have to fight all of them?"
He nodded. "But you won't win. Not unless you disengage the transmitter."
"And how do I do that?"
Dr. Witherall stopped working on my mother and looked at me. "I created a kill switch in the system. Password Lenora. Remember that. Lenora. L-E-N-O-R-A." He spelled it out for me like I was some sort of idiot.
"I got it. What's a Lenora?"
"It's not a what, it's a who."
I thought back to the necklace he gave me for my birthday. I wondered if the L stood for this Lenora person. I wanted to know who she was, but I didn't think it was the right time.
"What's your escape plan?” Dr. Witherall asked, working on my mother's head again.
"Uh, yeah, I don't really have one."
"The entire base is tethered to the ocean floor kind of like a giant anchor,” he explained. "The base was built above ground and made to float and then slowly brought under water. Break the tethers and it will float to the surface again."
"And just how do I break the tethers?"
"Go to Colonel Selliwood's computer,” he said. "I'll show you."
Still clutching my side, I hobbled over to Selliwood's desk. Just then I heard something. It sounded like clicking heels and singing. And not just any kind of singing. Someone who had a strong British accent. Great. Not Xi.
"Xi's coming,” I said, spinning around so fast I almost tripped and fell on my face...again.
Dr. Witherall dropped the tiny metal microchip into a stainless steel dish then looked at me with panic. "I can't let her find you. That child is insane."
"You're telling me."
He quickly sewed up the cut and placed a bandage over it. Then he went to the other side of the room and activated the holographic wall. I could still see him, but he couldn't see me.
Xi entered the lab from the same door I did when I found Will Smith. She crossed her arms and glared at Dr. Witherall. Hey, she had her hands back. I wondered if I'd get a chance to slice them off again.
The scary looking Zero thing stood beside her and licked the back of his hand like he was a dog cleaning himself. In his other hand, he held a gun.
Wait a minute. Where was Marco? Did something happen to him? I felt like yelling through the holographic wall, but I couldn't risk it. I couldn't fight Xi and Zero while trying to protect my mother and Will Smith at the same time.
"Yeah, I'm gonna need you to get this thing out of my head,” she said.
"What thing, Xi?” Dr. Witherall glanced nervously at the holographic wall. I wondered it Xi knew that the wall wasn't really there and that there was an office on the other side. If she knew, she didn't let on.
"The microchip. I want this microchip out of my head right now."
"I'm kind of busy -"
"Look, I know what you two are planning. I don't want to be some sort of robot. I need my own free will. I can't trust you people to pick out my outfits for me." Xi tossed her blonde highlighted hair over her shoulder and smoothed a wrinkle in her red cashmere sweater. "Now, you're going to have to take this device out of my head immediately. I just saw Colonel Selliwood. He's planning on activating some magnet or signal or something so I assume that's what's going to take control of the microchip, right?"
"Xi, just come back later and I'll help you,” Dr. Witherall said while trying to usher her out of the door. "I'm busy right now."
Xi looked around the room dramatically. "Hello, you don't look busy. Men." She rolled her eyes then buffed her fingernails on her shoulder. "I'll say it one more time using words you can understand,” she spoke slowly as if speaking to a baby. "Take this thing out of my head or Zero here -" She looked at Zero for the first time. "What the devil are you doing? Are you licking yourself? God, I swear it's like having a dog for a partner." She snatched the gun away from him. "Just answer me,” she continued as she pointed the gun at Dr. Witherall. "Are you going to remove the micro chip or not?"
Dr. Witherall shook his head slowly. "Maybe someone needs to control you, Xi. You are one sick little girl."
"Wrong answer." She nearly sang the words then pulled the trigger.
The bullet traveled as if in slow motion into his head. He collapsed to the ground. I had to cover my mouth to hold in a gasp. She'd killed him. She had shot him dead right before my eyes. A few hours ago, I might not have minded that. I might have even been happy. But Dr. Witherall was my grandfather. And he had just saved my life...and my mother's life...and hopefully my baby sister's life. My heart squeezed tighter and tighter in my chest. I thought I would explode. I had to fight to hold in my emotions.
"If you want something done right,” she said grabbing a scalpel from the shelf, “you have to do it yourself." Next Xi did something even more shocking than shooting someone dead at point blank range. I knew she was crazy. I knew she was completely insane, but I didn't know how deep the insanity went.
Xi jammed the scalpel into her head. I shielded my eyes when I saw the blood splatter. She might not be able to feel pain, but the sight of her digging into her scalp was painful for me just to watch. I thought I was going to pass out.
After a few seconds, I peeked through my fingers to see what she was doing. She had sliced open the side of her head and was using a mirror to get a close up look at...at...Was that her brain? Ugh. I felt nauseated, but I couldn't turn away.
Xi soon figured out that she was working on the wrong side of her head. As soon as she removed the scalpel, the open wound started healing itself. She then sliced open the other side.
Finally, she found what she was looking for. The tiny microchip transmitter had a light that blinked. When she dug her fingers into her head to yank it out something unexpected happened. Her legs gave way and she passed out.
Specimen Zero took a step f
orward and nudged her with his foot. When she didn't move, he knelt down and sniffed her. Wait a minute. Did he actually sniff her? Anyway, Zero started yelping. I didn't understand why he was so attached to Xi.
With Xi incapacitated and Zero occupied mourning her, it was the perfect time to escape. But I knew I wouldn't get far carrying my mom and Will Smith. And what if another specimen came around? I needed reinforcements.
Chapter 25: Tai
Josh, are you there? I called him in my mind. He didn't respond. I really sucked at telepathy. I was totally telepathetic. I would have to remember to get some lessons from my mother if we ever got out of this. Maybe she could teach me to be telepathic.
I ran shaky fingers through my hair. I had just seen my grandfather shot at point blank range by a psychopath who then sliced open her own head! I had two incapacitated genetically-enhanced assassins who I cared about waiting for me to save them. My stomach started turning. What was I gonna do? How was I gonna get out of here? My grand...Dr. Witherall didn't even have a chance to show me how get the base to float to the surface. What if we all died in this underwater coffin?
I fell to the floor and put my head in my hands. I had to force myself to calm down. Freaking out wasn't going to help anyone.
I needed Josh. Whenever I was about to have a Prissy Fit, he was able to send me this calm feeling that instantly made me feel better.
Josh? Josh, where are you? If you're dead, I'll kill you. Once again completely illogical, but whatever.
I glanced at my watch. I was supposed to meet Marco at the loading dock in two minutes. I needed to get moving. I knew I was strong enough to carry both of them, I just hoped I didn't run into any specimens along the way.
I had just tossed Will Smith over my shoulder when I heard someone trying to burst through the door. I looked through the holographic wall at Specimen Zero. He'd heard it too. He yelped then ran away. Once again. What a wimp!
The banging continued. I didn't know who it was, but they were about to face a fight. I placed Will back on the ground and braced myself for an attack. After one more loud bang a streak of silver burst through the door.
"Marco?” I didn't wait for a response, I just ran into his arms.
"I'm so glad you're okay,” he said, hugging me back.
"Where's Josh?"
He started to say something and then stopped. He looked around the room. "What happened to them?” he asked, pointing to Dr. Witherall and Xi through the holographic wall.
"Witherall is dead. Xi killed him. Then she stabbed herself in the head trying to get her microchip out herself. She's been out cold for like five minutes. But she can come to any second. We should probably try to get out of here. Wait a minute,” I said. "You didn't answer my question. Where's Josh? Did something happen to him?"
Marco wouldn't make eye contact with me as he said. "He's going to be fine."
"Going to be fine? What happened?" I started to panic. I had come here to save my mother. I didn't want to lose my brother in the process.
"Calm down. He really will be fine."
"Just tell me."
He sighed. "We can walk and talk,” he said gently lifting my mother from the table as if she was small sleeping child. Then he turned and headed toward the door.
I picked up Will again, tossed him over my shoulder and followed.
"I was chasing after Zero hoping he'd lead me to Selliwood when I got a telepathic distress call from Josh,” Marco explained as we made our way through the narrow hallways. "I gave up on Zero and went to find Josh. He and Tai were locked in a room surrounded by guards. He was controlling eight guards and Specimen Beta with his powers when I showed up to help. Beta alone would be enough to exhaust him. He passed out from the strain, but he should be fine soon."
I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew how much it took out of him to use his hypnotic suggestion on just regular humans. I couldn't imagine how much it took to control another specimen.
"You should probably be more concerned about your friend, Taiana. She was, how do you say, 'totally freaked out?'"
I could only imagine. This was so far beyond anything she had ever done before. I wonder if she regretted coming with me now.
We turned a corner and went through a door into a room filled with tied up guards. That must have been how Marco subdued them. Even after being trained as an assassin for most of his life, he refused to use deadly force. All the guys were alive and well, but probably a little embarrassed for getting beat by an unarmed teenager.
Josh and Tai were in a glass compartment in the middle of the room. It kind of looked like they were in a fish tank or something.
"Josh!” I cried when I saw him lying unconscious on the floor. Tai held his head in her lap as she cried uncontrollably. I laid Will down then knelt beside Josh and felt for his pulse. Marco put my mother down next to both of them.
"It's all my fault,” Tai continued. "I should have worked faster. We could've been out of here before the guards showed up and Josh wouldn't have had to use his powers. He was just trying to protect me."
"He's got a pulse,” I said. "Josh! Josh, can you hear me?” I yelled before giving him a hard slap across the face.
Josh groaned then started humming Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera. Yeah, he was going to be fine.
Suddenly a loud noise erupted all around us. I covered my ears and fell to the floor. The piercing buzz was so loud I thought sure it would shatter the glass of the room we were in. It was beyond piercing. It was like a buzzing sound wrapped up in a screech and topped off with a ringing.
"Priss, what's wrong?” Tai asked.
What kind of a question was that? Didn't she hear it? I looked up at her. She seemed completely unaffected by the painfully loud noise. I guess she didn't hear it. I looked over at Marco. He seemed confused as to why I was covering my ears.
"Don't you hear that?” I asked, looking between both of them.
Marco shook his head. "It must be your super hearing."
I screamed in pain then curled up into the fetal position.
"Priscilla, how can I help you?” Marco asked, kneeling beside me.
"Make it stop! Just make it stop!” I was near tears it hurt so badly.
"But I don't know what it is?” Marco sounded helpless.
"Signal. It's the signal,” Josh whispered. His eyes were still closed. I couldn't quite figure out if he was waking up or sleep talking.
I tried to register what Josh was saying. Had Colonel Selliwood enacted the transmitter? Was it projecting on a frequency only I could hear with my super hearing? If that was the case it would mean -.
A hard punch to my face interrupted my thoughts. Then suddenly I was flying through the air. I crashed through a glass window of the compartment and landed against the wall on the other side of the room. I looked up to see Marco standing over me with a vicious look in his eye. He had punched me and thrown me across the room. I looked in his eyes again. This wasn't Marco. This wasn't the boy who only minutes ago said he would do anything for me. This person inside Marco's metal body would do only one thing. Kill...me.
Chapter 26: Chips Activated
I rubbed the side of my face with one hand while using my other arm to block a kick to my face. I grabbed his metal leg and threw him against the wall. He seemed totally unfazed as he reached out with two quick punches to my face and stomach.
I was dizzy and unstable. I felt blood pooling in my mouth. The ridiculously loud noise continued, making it feel like sharp objects were being crammed in my ears. I needed a second to get myself together. I threw a desk at Marco's head as I ran and hid behind some sort of electronic control board a few feet away from where Josh and Tai were.
"How did Selliwood turn on the transmitter? Wouldn't he have to do it from this room?” I asked Tai from my hiding place. I knew I only had a few seconds before Marco came at me again. Probably less time than that. I just needed to wrap my head around what was going on.
"He must have some so
rt of remote,” she said in a loud whisper. I should have told her whispering wouldn't matter. Marco could read our minds if he wanted to. I stole a quick glance at him walking around in circles looking for me. Strange. Turning on the microchip must have subdued some of his other natural abilities. He was like a mindless robot, without the ability to think for himself and use logic to find me. Maybe he didn't have use of his telepathy anymore.
"Can you turn it off?” I asked.
"I don't know,” she said, hugging my brother's limp body closer.
I didn't hear Marco's metal footsteps coming toward me. Instead, they were getting further away. I poked my head around and saw him headed toward Tai and Josh with a slow and determined stride.
