The Periodic Experiment

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As Pluto smiled, and told Syven about her powers, she grew more and more sure that Pluto was the person who killed that scientist years back in those classified files she once saw. Radiation, huh. Her thought were interrupted by a gentle warm feeling that surrounded her, the droplets of water on her hair and clothes started to dry up as Pluto puts her hand never them. It was a surprise that Pluto now manages to control her powers this well, honestly for a second, Syven thought she was going to vaporize or something along that line. It was probably best if Pluto doesn't know that Syven knows about her killing incident, or else she'll be in more guilt then ever. Syven patted the dogs head again, and wanted to thank Pluto, but some loud screams started coming from the testing chamber interrupting the whole room.

"Oh boy..."

Syven tried to ignore the loud sounds coming from the testing chamber, she wasn't the type of person to worry about matters like that, but when a sofa went flying across the room, it just crossed the line. She looked over and saw Steven raging at the scientist and guards. Syven never seen him so angry before, well, no one really got very angry around this place anyways. Although no one did, it will be a problem if someone just went all out on the scientists. If powers like theirs went out of control, then it could very well be the end of the world, or at least the end of the west side of USA anyways. Steven's voice turned louder and louder with each word he spoke. To a surprise he mentioned "Silicon" in his rampage, no one ever really talked about Syven, she never expected anyone to talk about her, even if she did almost drown. She could get out of that room in a matter of seconds, she just chose not to. To Syven Steven is likely doing a foolish thing----showing all your abilities to the scientists. She herself had always persevered what she could actually do, being a wild card was something quiet enjoyable, and something that will save you.

When the guards pulled out the tasers, and the red dots appeared on Steven's chest, it was obvious that the situation was becoming more dire that it seemed. Syven tried to take control of the taser guns in the guards's hands, but no luck. Weapons are usually not computer controlled, it only turned that way after Syven arrived, so it was obvious that one day weapons are going to be used on her. Pluto, who sat beside her the whole time, got up. Before she left for the other side of the room, Syven grabbed the edge of her shirt.

"...If you put all your pieces top ahead, it'll be easier for the opponent to checkmate you." She let go of Pluto after, not knowing if she heard her or understood her. Never show your true strengths to these people, or else they'll find a way to counter your trump card.

When Steven was shot, he fell as expected. Glancing with the corner of her eye, Syven can see that most of the others are being taken away, while Pluto was protecting another girl. A guard was sneaking upon her, with a taser in hand like many other of the guards who took the others away. Syven didn't want to resist, this situation wasn't serious enough to call for real resistance, but she didn't like the idea of being tasered. While the guard sneaked behind her, she quickly turned around and caught him off guard. The guards never took her seriously since she had no active power, and was so young at the same time. Grabbing the Guard's wrist she twisted it back so the joint in now unmovable, staying in the position she looked at the guard in the eye. Her eyes reflected bits of light, as if tiny screens were hidden in them.

"I won't resist, but I prefer to do this the easy way."

After being led out of the room, Syvne saw several others being carried, they were unconscious. Looks like I'm the only one who didn't faint. She was also the only one who was safe enough to be escorted conscious though, they others are like ticking bombs, while she was nothing. Soon the people stared parting, Syven was led downwards into the deepest basement. It was the most heavily defended area in the lab, not even a radio signal can slip though. The door wasn't a code door like the other rooms, it was a lock, a good old fashion lock with no electronics or anything. The last time they only putted her in a room with a normal lock upstairs, which resulted in her hacking the lock next doors, now she was completely cut off from the outside. The room it self wasn't so bad, minus the fact that it looks sort of like that place where they keep the bodies in a hospital. Syven didn't mind though, she enjoyed the cold, it reminded her of a place that she can vaguely remember.

There were no computers in the place, nor was there internet. The only thing with her was her tablet. Syven rumpled though the files she saved earlier, she came across one screen shot of a older news article. It was an article about how a child went missing, in it there are mentions of how that child's family use to live in a place called Siberia. Why live on a wasteland like that? For some reason this article makes Syven wanting to think, it has an odd vibe about it that seems so familiar. She blinked a few times, then closed the tablet. A few books layed on the small table, most of them were references like A Guide to Advanced Physics, but there was only one small doctument that was a story. The Machine Stops. A story about how humanity's future was controlled by a machine. Syven liked the idea of that, since it likely means that she can take over the world with her power. But on second thought, taking over the world seems like a job that get boring quick, so she dropped it after a few seconds. It has been a couple of days since she slept, it was a good chance to get some sleep. The food was generally ignored since she was sleeping for about three days, the guards actually had to wake her up when they can be let out. It was perhaps a super power that Syven was born with, being able to live despite the her abnormal bio-clock.

When they were let out, the first thing that she did was get to her room, and got a bottle of cream soda. Usually very sugary items were not allowed, but since Syven won't really cause actual destruction on a sugar high, well, she never had a sugar rush, she was allowed to have stuff like that. Just no sharing. After checking for any updates on some social media, she decided to leave and check out the others. It was a surprising fact that she was allowed on the internet, but all she could do is look at stuff and download them, no sending or posting, or anything that can actually connect her directly with the outside world.

It was a rare thing to see Syven at the breakfast table, she always stayed in her room 24/7, and ate what ever she can "take" from the storage room by hacking the door. She can see the oxygen girl, and Nikoai? Was that the name, she haven't really checked on the names lately. The Neon girl was also in the kitchen, grabbing what seemingly to be all the food there. She took a sip of the cream soda, it was odd how she doesn't get hungry that much, probably due to the constant stream of random snacks in her room. She can hear the discussing the incident from days ago, and being nervous about how the test are getting more and more deadly. Syven never minded the deadly tests, it wasn't really that dangerous for her, but it's a whole different story for them.

"Killing..." She can't kill, nor can she cause anyone to go blind like the Neon girl. She can't cause any physical harm to living things, it seemed like a good thing for now, but what about the future. She thought about the story that she red in the chamber, and the things she's seen on the internet. She could take over the world, but that'll be boring, ruling the world by yourself, besides, how would she ever get out of this place if they could just point a gun to her and everything would be over. She was strong, but only if she can play everything smart. Grabbing a stool she sat at the table, with nothing to eat except that one bottle of cream soda, she hoped that no one noticed it.
 
Genie did look visibly relieved when he confirmed he was indeed okay, the tension in her shoulders eleviated a little and the smell of oxygen diminished a little from the immediate vicinity. Whether it was concern for Nikolai, for Steven or for both she herself was not entirely sure. Of course, had it just been for Steven, and the guilt he'd place on himself if he had hurt Nikolai, then she would not have had such a lapse in concentration, she wouldn't have breathed oxygen. "I'm glad it missed you." She said honestly, so honestly her mind only caught up with itself a moment later and she flushed a darker colour, dropping her head and distracting herself with another mouthful of the grapefruit to try and hide her awkwardness. Conversation had always been awkward for her, even as a child, or so she assumed, parts of her past were rather foggy but it was so inconvenient being incapable of speaking with other people without seemingly falling apart, "I mean...I..." There wasn't really a way to make what she said sound better without taking it back, which she didn't want to as she really was glad he was okay. Instead she made a small frustrated sound and shook her head, her nose part way scrunched up in a manner that bordered on cute accompanied by a slight hint of a nervous giggle, something she clearly didn't do often.

When he mentioned the tranquilizer she looked up again, most of the flush gone from her cheeks and she gave another awkward faint smile, it was not the best topic of conversation but they were so rarely allowed to speak with one another, even if they were permitted in the same rooms. Even then most of them kept to themselves feeling too awkward to do anything but. "Yes they do, you get used to them though, well a little anyway. As long as you hydrate and eat it wears off pretty quick, I have them quite a lot so I've learned how to shake off the..." Again she was babbling, again she was saying unnecessary things and again she felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Did other teens have this problem when talking to guys? With the researchers she could speak, oh she was not their friend, not like Steven had been but she saw more of them and spoke more to them due to tests, medicals, experiments, questionnaires and a myriad of other day to day needs than she did most of the people she knew here. Perhaps that meant if she spent more time around the others she'd grow accustom to them too and be able to speak with them more freely in turn.

She gave a brief, grateful smile as he apologized, "No. It's okay Nikolai." It was strange actually being allowed to talk to one another and she wondered if it was as odd for him as it was for her. An awkward silence fell between them and she became a little worried he might leave, her canine bit lightly into her lower lip and her hair danced at the tips, threatening to go if she grew any more nervous. She glanced down to her spoon again, trying to think of a topic they could discuss that wouldn't leave one or the other of them uncomfortable, or, anymore uncomfortable than they already were. It was so hard to tell what would be good, she'd seen him reading of course and so she could always ask about his books, though would that be considered dull and boring?

It was Nikolai who broke the tension, albeit with a poor choice of conversation, it did though snap her attention from her hands and bring her eyes to his for the first proper time that conversation. They were intense in a way but all the same they were fluid and gentle, she had an odd gaze that was no doubt thanks to her element. She looked vaguely wounded and yet also grateful at his apology. "T-thank you Nikolai..." She could have left it at that, the men here certainly weren't saints and they did deserve the blame for at least ninety percent of the stuff they all endured here. This time though it wasn't just them to blame. "I...I've never killed before... I hurt someone once, when we were kids. I've never been so scared, I vowed I'd never hurt people again, its an awful feeling..." She didn't know why she was telling Nikolai this, "T-the researcher said the original plan had been to...to use my powers on Steven instead... They said I could have that choice if I wanted it..." Genie was uncertain how Nikolai would react to this news, to the choice she'd been given, she felt stained, dirty for having killed that pig but what would someone else think? As children Boron and Sulfur had become terrified of her after the accident with Steven, they hadn't been out right cruel, they'd all just been kids, scared kids.

Hesitantly she lifted her gaze again, it was the second most terrifying thing she'd done in the last two days, she'd now long since given up on her grapefruit, the spoon now gripped in knuckles half white from the effort exerted on it and those lazily dancing tips were a continual rolling mist, the smell of oxygen once again lingering in the air. "Did...did I do the right thing?"
She honestly didn't know, should she have risked getting it wrong with Steven to spare the pig? Of course there had been a third option, there had always been a third option and it was that that tore her up with guilt. Pluto had stood up to the guards, refused to do what they had asked when they asked her to kill a dog, up in the observation room Steven had stood up for all of them. She could have stopped it all though, she could have killed the scientists, she could have refused to kill the pig or hurt Steven but to what extent? The researchers could have just as easily shot the dog when Pluto said no, they could have just as easily stopped Steven's heart. If she'd said no would the pig still be alive? Even if she was confident in her control of her abilities would Steven be okay? Even if one didn't die from it suffocating was a terrible experience. "W-what was your test like?" She asked, hoping he wouldn't get up and walk away, hoping that he'd stay and continue their awkward conversation and that he'd take her mind off of what she'd done the day prior.
 
Kaoru curiously watched Genie, seeing her grip on her spoon become tighter with each word that she spoke, and feeling the nervousness in the air. Kaoru wanted to say something to try to calm her, it was painful to see her so awkward. Kaoru wanted more than anything to just be friends with every elemental subject - as cheesy as it sounds. However, with Kaoru's habit of being too curious for her own good, she knew that she could sometimes cross the line from 'trying-to-make-friends' to 'please-don't-rape-me.' Kaoru watched Nikolai as well, he was definitely interesting with how he always seemed to be on-edge yet he still had an aura that could draw people to him, he most likely didn't even know that about him.

Kaoru was snapped out of her thoughts when Genie asked, "Are you okay though? B-both of you?" Kaoru stiffened for a moment, she didn't expect anyone to have any care for her. Kaoru nodded, nervously swallowing the food that she was pigging out on, "Y-Yeah." She couldn't think of anything else to say, despite wanting to talk forever with them, so she just left it at that and looked back down at the table, trying to pace her eating.

Nikolai calmly answered as well as Kaoru was mentally taking notes of how he was so calm - as weird as that may sound. He always stayed away from most people, yet he seemed to be so well at socializing. How could she ever become friends with someone as level headed as him? They were all so nice in their own way, yet they always had a difficulty with having a conversation with each other, which was partially the scientists' fault.

Genie and Nikolai continued with their awkward conversation with Kaoru closely listening in, trying to see if it would be right to join their little talk. Another girl walked in and Kaoru immediately recognized her: Syven. She was probably the most interesting one of the bunch, she was always amazing with her ability to mess with technology. Kaoru always had all sorts of questions for Syven, but seeing as they had partially opposite personalities, she never thought that she would ever be able to talk to her.

Kaoru tried not to seem creepy as she silently wished to talk to everyone, until she snapped out of her thoughts hearing Genie starting to talk about how she had to kill in her test. Kaoru immediately switched her attention to Genie, "You had to kill something too?!" Kaoru immediately shut her mouth, widening her eyes at her random outburst. "I-I mean... Sorry, I probably shouldn't talk too much about it. But I-I was attacked by a rabid dog, and was forced to p-pierce a k-knife through it's... chest..." Kaoru could barely get her words out, trying not to tear up as she thought of the horrible test that most people had. "S-sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I probably should've paid more attention to everyone else's tests, as well. I knew some other people had to kill something in their tests, but..." Kaoru dropped her gaze down to the table, "But I didn't know that you were one of the people that had to." Kaoru knew that she should've paid more attention to how everyone else's tests went, she probably looked ignorant now. Genie was sweet, how could those scientists force her to kill something?! And Nikolai as well, who would've known what would've been forced upon him if that sofa was sent flying through the window? And then Syven, she didn't have anything too harsh, but she never got riled up over anything, she was calm and carefree anyways. What the hell were these scientists thinking?!
 
Nikolai gave himself a mental pounding when the words tumbled out of his mouth. What an awful attempt at conversation. "Yeah, that probably wasn't the best thing to say. She probably just wants to forget the whole thing and there I go, reminding her of it all. Fantastic." Nikolai sighed at himself, knowing his thoughts were correct. Wanting to at least try and make her feel a little better, Nikolai offered a reassuring smile, listening to her as she rambled. She looked nervous still, and her eyes were filled with anguish. Nikolai understood her torment; he knew all about the guilt and self-hatred that came with ending a living creature's life. He'd accidentally killed before and he still felt that weight, even now, years later.

"Of course you did the right thing," Nikolai murmured, glancing at the spoon in her white-knuckled hands. "You should probably let that go before it breaks," Nikolai said, holding out his hand. He didn't really expect her to hand over the spoon since she was holding it so tightly. It was probably one of the only things keeping her together- literally. Wisps of oxygen radiated off of her, the long tresses of her hair starting to turn invisible. "Hey, it's okay. You don't have to feel bad. It wasn't your fault, okay? Nothing that happens in this place is because of us. We never asked for this. Just remember that," Nikolai shrugged and offered another smile, catching the girls unusual eyes as he did. "I have to tell myself that everyday. It gets easier to deal with the grief, I promise."

Kaoru interjected here, inserting that she had been made to kill an animal as well. Nikolai looked over at her as she spoke, watching as she cast her gaze downwards, obviously feeling like she'd been rude in some way. "You weren't interrupting, Kaoru," Nikolai assured, motioning with a hand for her to scoot down the bench. "If you want to join the conversation, you're welcome to....I would suggest moving a bit closer, though. That might make it easier to hear." Nikolai didn't wait for the other girl to slide down before turning back to Genie who was still speaking. She'd asked him about his test now, and Nikolai picked over his words in his head, unsure of how to respond.

Nikolai felt himself want to frown but he didn't knowing that it would only make Genie more upset if he piled his own problems onto hers. He decided right then not to mention how awful some of his private tests have been, knowing that it would probably scare her away. He found himself relaxing more as the conversation went on, even if the subject was morbid. Unfortunately any ease he felt evaporated when Genie asked him about his test. He let his frown show before he shrugged. "The same as normal, actually. I didn't get to find out what phase two was. The sofa sort of ended things abruptly," Nikolai actually laughed then, recognizing that his words seemed absurd. Anyone listening in on the conversation without any prior knowledge, he would probably sound crazy.

Actually, they would all sound crazy. And maybe they were, at least to a degree. They were all freaks, that was sure, but they had each other in their own little twisted world, no matter how lame that seemed. Nikolai sighed again, feeling some of his energy drain as he thought again about his test and how it was cut short. Surely the scientists would be coming to fetch him from his room later so they could finish. He'd do anything to never have to set foot in the God forsaken room again. "Why don't we talk about something a bit happier, if we're going to have a conversation? None of us really talk to any one other than the scientists or guards, and all of those conversations are so depressing. Let's not give this conversation the same feeling."

Nikolai glanced between the two other test subjects, feeling happier than he had probably ever felt. He was starting to realize that maybe avoiding other people all the time had been a mistake. He knew that he'd probably go back to his room and stay there, not making any attempt at socializing, but for the time being having other people to talk to, specifically ones he didn't automatically loath, was a nice change of pace.
 
I walked silently, the armed escort trodding behind me only adding to the unnerving Idea that If I so willingly gave them what they wanted how were the other's going to be treated? That thought was washed away when we took a turn down one of the white hallways that made up the maze like complex. I knew where They were taking me. Auxillery test chamber. After stevens incident they would have to spend at least a week repairing the test chamber before having us go back in there. When We got to the auxilery tes chamber I was given a gentle shove through the automatic doors, nearly stumbling to the ground as they did so. I heard the tell tail hiss of the door closing and hermetically sealing and before I knew what was going on I began to feel the room getting hotter and hotter. The hotter it got the more my skin began to sting, then my chest started to hurt, dully at first but the pain escelated quickly enough.

It didn't take long before I was doubled over on my hands and knees fighting the urge to scream out in pain. Every inch of me felt like it was on fire, my insides felt like the were in a meat grinder. Every breath was like setting fire to my lungs. Sweat was dripping off of me in rivelletes as the heat just kept climbing. The max they'd ever hit me with was 120. So could they be pushing it further. I wanted to taunt them scoff at them say anythign if not to piss them off but to help me keep focused, but I couldn't. It was too hot. The pain was too much. I let out an ear piercing scream of pain before my limbs finaly gave way. As my body hit the plastic floor under me I found myself instinctively curling into a ball. God those idiots better not have done anything stupid . . .

They kept me in that room for two days with no water or food. The temperature never lowering. I knew they were punishing me for speaking up, for trying to act like I had some power over them. They were in control here. Not us. We were the guini pigs and this was just another test in the log book. But still I couldn't help but worry about the others. Nikolai had been in the test chamber when Steven hurled the coach through their. I was pretty sure he managed to dodge it but still I worried. Genie, she was so distraught by the way they tazed Steven, and while I couldn't blame them for tazing the oaf I still worried that he was Ok. I also worried that genie hadn''t gone and done anything too brash after that . . . and what about Syven? I hoped my dog was treating her OK.


Day Three
Cafateria​

The two scientists only happenned into the cafateria by chance when the kids were there. As soon as they'd spotted them There voices hushed considerably as if to hide some secret from them. The older of the two scientists simply grabbed a sandwich and a bottle of water before turning his back to the kids saying in hushed tones "Stil. Three day's? It's a bit excessive don't you think?" The younger of the two took a drink from his water before grabbing a bowl of oatmeal saying

"It doesn't matter. The big wiggs want to know what she is capable of." He shrugged his shoulders as if to say that his hands were tied as they left. Shortly after the doors slid open again and a new guard came in making his way across the room to one of the other's saying

"Alright Nick, Shift's up go get some rest." The guard gave him a grinn and started for the exit before stopping. I quickly ran back to his replacement and once again under hushed tones asked

"Hey is she still in the test chamber?" H took a harsh punch to the arm from the other who quickly shot a look over at the other's before saying

"Yeah, but it's more ike torture then a test. If you want a good show head on over, they just brought in some covnvicts and spectacles was all happy with himself telling everyone to get ready for the big test. Might be exciting." The guard gave him a pat on the back before making a b-line out of the room towards the test chambers.
 
James lay upon his bed and just stared at the familiar white ceiling. It was the same sight that he saw everyday when he woke and when he was about to fall asleep. However, that wasn't what James was paying attention to. Rather, every time he was on his bed like that with his eyes open, James was ruminating about what had happened just several minutes earlier. Steven had exploded, and that led to a pretty dangerous situation. One accident could have led to someone shot. That was something that James couldn't forgive Steven for. He had put people's lives at risk with his outburst. Still, James could understand why he did suddenly have that outburst. The experiments today were particularly... questionable. The kids had been treated relatively well. In fact, there really wasn't much to complain about.

Yes, they were test subjects, but they were treated somewhat humanly. Today though... these tests weren't humane at all. Rather, they seemed like some sort of stress test for tools and weapons. They had been denigrated into things to be used and tested this time around. That bothered James. He was no longer viewed as human. So, what purpose did he live for? To help and serve someone? Who knew for what end he would be used for. If it meant helping others, then James didn't mind being used. It gave him some sort of calling and purpose to live. Still, these tests did not seem like these skills would be used for a beneficial purpose, but rather to harm and destroy. So, James faced his dilemma. What was he living for? Was he even "alive" so to speak if he didn't have any choices? The more James thought about it, the less human he felt. His life was planned from when he woke up to when he fell asleep. There was little in which James really had control over. No, James knew that he was lying to himself. These were small scraps that took the guise of freedom. He really did not have the freedom to make any choices in life.

James couldn't help but softly chuckle at the absurdity that was his life. It was a Sisyphean ordeal. James got up from his bed and looked around the room. It was a relatively barren room that served a functional purpose more than an aesthetic one. There was a simple closet, his bed, a desk and a chair. The only thing that stood out was the dull palette of books that lined up on his desk, forming a discontinuous rainbow of spines. James walked over to one of the books and open to a memorized page number. The story of Sisyphus, the King of Ephyra, begins with stories of his wile and cunning plots to maintain his iron-fisted rule over his domain. Then, when he finally died, Zeus punished the King for having the hubris to think that he was more clever than Zeus himself. His punishment was to roll a boulder up a mountain until he reached the top. Only then could Sisyphus leave the mountain and finally pass on into the afterlife. However, in order to display his superior wit, Zeus cursed the boulder to continuously roll down right before Sisyphus reached the top of the mountain. Thus, Sisyphus was cursed for eternity to roll a boulder up only to have it roll back back down. Thus, Sisyphus had two choices. He could give up and just sit, idle, suffering a meaningless existence that was in essence, death. The other option was to keep trying to strive and reach the top with the boulder despite knowing that it was impossible. This repetitious life was practically death, a routine existence where nothing changes. However, Sisyphus chose the second choice and he continues to struggle to roll the boulder to this day.

Why? James had wondered for years. Why would he try even though he knew that he would fail every time? James came to a conclusion not too long ago. Sisyphus found some sort of meaning in his struggle. He found pleasure in continuously climbing, despite knowing that he would never see the top. This did not sit well with James. He couldn't help but feel his existence similar to Sisyphus, but James wasn't sure that he was a big enough person to find meaning like Sisyphus did. Thus, the two options remained on the board. Did he keep going on with this farce of an existence? Or would he just quit? James chuckled slightly again. The two choices weren't even really choices since they led to the same end. One was just more expedient than the other. James put down the book on his desk and went back onto his bed. He laid down and closed his eyes. He thought "Might as well sleep... there isn't anything else I can do." as a single tear slowly formed in the corner of his eye.

---

James entered the cafeteria. He was... hollow in the inside, but oddly he felt at peace. He received his tray of food and headed to a table where some of the others were sitting and chatting. James approached an empty chair, and put on a small smile as a sign of greeting. He then proceeded to quietly consume his vitals without saying a word.
 
When Nikolai told her she had done the right thing the relief was immediate and obvious and a smile, less nervous and more grateful, slipped onto her face. That was until the spoon was mentioned and it wavered hesitantly, Genie glanced down to it, no doubt it had already bent to some minuscule degree from her tight grip. She wasn't overly strong so bending it to a more noticeable degree would take some time and she'd much rather damage it than him, or Kaoru, or -as she noticed her silent approach- Syven at the end of the table. Much better a spoon than watch them suffocate and hate her. When Nikolai's hand moved out she glanced down at it, confused momentarily before she realised what it was he was after, she didn't want to offend him by not giving it to him but at the same she was scared if she gave it up she would disappear, albeit temporarily.Of course sh'ed also have the added worry of touching him, not for a moment did she think he'd hurt her but quite the opposite, she would be mortified if the second time she touched someone she took their air. Especially since Nikolai had been so very nice to her as well.

Luckily he didn't pause long and she could not agonize over giving up the spoon, again her eyes rose to meet his and she listened as he spoke. His words were comforting beyond measure and for a moment she was certain she was going to cry, for so long she'd hoped to hear those words from someone other than the researchers. He, unlike them, knew what she was going through, he understood how it felt to be here and do the things they asked of you. Somehow though she managed not too, no doubt it would worry him if she started to cry after such kind words, instead she managed a brighter smile.

She was preparing to say something when Kaoru spoke up and her gratitude was halted in favour of looking over at the girl. They'd made her kill something too? She knew she should have watched the experiments but she honestly didn't have the stomach for it, the noises themselves were too much for her and she doubted she could have held herself together if she'd seen what they were going through. "A r-rabid dog?" Genie wasn't really asking, she seemed shocked and appalled, while Kaoru could have blinded everyone here without much concern she didn't know how to use her powers to defend herself against a brutal attack like that. "That's so horrible, I am so sorry Kaoru. D-don't feel bad though, I couldn't watch the tests either." She tried to offer a reassuring smile but she was not used to consoling anyone so she wasn't sure how comforting it would honestly be. Nikolai invited her to scoot down closer to them and Genie nodded her agreement, while the rational part of her told her she should protest, the closer a person was the more likely she was to hurt them after all, she wanted to throw caution to the wind and just enjoy being a person for a while.

When Genie's eyes returned to Nikolai as he answered her question she spotted the frown and felt maybe she'd offended him, or possibly, judging by his eyes, he was holding something back. Genie had spent a very long time people watching, the guards, the scientists, the researchers, even the other test subjects and she'd had a long time to get good at reading people. It was hardly a super power but she could tell when someone was lying and when someone was hiding something, even if it was for someone else's benefit. Mentioning the flying couch in the way he did did seem to be a little absurd and the combination of that and the sound bout of laughter from Nikolai caused Genie herself to chuckle quietly. "Well, thank goodness for flying couches then." Phase two was bound to be awful for him, it had been awful for all of them and she doubted the researchers made any exceptions.

Of course, that being said that meant they would eventually come for him to finish his test, they had promised as much before she had been sedated and she grew a touch concerned for him. The test was bound to be hard but would they push those who had not done there's harder as a form of punishment for the events on test day? She hoped not, some time between the laughter and the present Genie had calmed, no longer did wisps of fine mist wash over her skin and her hair had returned to a solid, lump that only stirred when she moved and not due to current's caused by her element. The blush too had gone from her cheeks and she was gripping the spoon much less tightly than before, while it was still a little awkward talking like this with them it was already less stressful.

Glancing down at the little spoon, which now had a small bend in it from her prior gripping she made a decision, she took the end of the spoon in her hand and slid it carefully across the worktop until it bumped against Nikolai's fingers. "Here." She wasn't quite sure what it was supposed to signify, or if he would think she was just being strange and laugh at her but for now it was the closest she could get to saying, It's okay, don't worry, let's be friends and maybe eat some ice cream sometime. She doubted after all that the scientists would allow the socializing to continue after today, after they had checked to make sure none were too emotionally unstable and rectifying the problem with those that were. Which meant they would likely see little of one another after today and those like her, that isolated themselves, be it from fear habit or personal dislike, would continue to do so. So perhaps the spoon was less Let's be friends and more Don't forget me.

Nikolai however cut such melancholy thoughts, speaking up about choosing a happier topic to talk about, she couldn't agree more. This was the first conversation with people her age in years and she didn't want to go to her room when it was over feeling depressed. Perhaps, if she did it right, this would be her new happy dream, the thing that kept her sane when she felt her sanity slipping, a table, benches and people her own age, nice people, good people. "I like that idea." She agreed, "I often see you with a book Nikolai, what do you like to read?" Looking to Kaoru she offered a faint, uncertain smile, "Do you like reading and S-Syven, if you like, you don't have to, but if you wanted to you could come talk with us...too....if you want." She was nervous again, striking up a conversation was harder than maintaining one but she felt she ought to none the less, James sat down not long after she had spoken to Syven so it took only a little more courage to say, "You too James...if you want that is." Just for today, she thought it would be nice, if everyone could be included, of course, she wasnt' sure they would feel the same way or that Nikolai or Kaoru would even want other people to join them, once again a blush crept up on her cheeks and she looked to Kaoru and Nikolai. "I-If you two...don't mind that is...I'm sorry, I should of asked first..."

Of course then the guards walked in, they must have been a new batch as they were much more sadistic than those that usually were around, the usual guys weren't nice by any stretch of the word but they didn't take pleasure in torture and pain. Most, or so she'd gathered from listening, were ex-military so had seen enough violence for one life time. Of course that should not have been her biggest concern and it wasn't as soon as they started to speak on what was happening, all the happiness drained from her as they continued to speak and she turned white as a sheet. "S-she..." Dread filled her, working its icy fingers from her gut outwards, choking her and freezing her from the inside out, what had happened after she'd been sedated. What was happening for the scientist to be so cruel?

She was scared, so scared half her hair had dissipated into a fine mist and she trembled violently, her fingers both solid and not, fluctuating between the two and her rapid breath was a constant stream of oxygen, what had happened, what was happening?
 
Syven sat at the end of the table, holding her cream soda and flipping though her tablet. The conversation was still going on the other end of the table, everyone was talking about how they were forced to kill a living thing before. Syven had no place in that conversation, it's impossiable for her to directly kill someone with her powers, and she had always been in contact more with machiens than living things. Although she predictes that someday she'll be forced to go hack the goverment and launch a nuke into New York or something, but that's probably the time when the scientists finally decide to dominate the world with their freaky powers. She never killed anything before, but she wasn't triffied of the idea of killing. It is obvious what the scienties are trying to do to the kids with power capable to kill. They're trying to make them feel so guilty by killing the innocent, so that they won't kill even if it comes down to the point. How horrible, protecting your own selfish and cruel wishes by making others feel such guilt for doing something that they had no power to change. Syven thought, what if she was forced to kill someone, not just with her power, but with anything else? Would she do it? Maybe, just maybe.

When Nikolai on the other side finally tried to change the tone of the conversation, the atmoshpere changed into a more light hearted one. So Syven continued on sliding her figer around on her tablet. The artcle that she saw last night appeared on the screen once more. Kidnapped Children. Kidnapped Children. Kidnapped Children. Why... The whole artcle seems to be screaming at her, telling her something that she might've not figered out yet, but what? It seems like that there was a missing link in figering out something big, and this missing link is lying in front of her now, but she just can't see it.

She vaguely remembered when she was eight she discovered her powers, and was brought to a room with other kids. Nikolai, Genie, and Kaoru were all there, they were all a few years older than her though. The others she wasn't sure, but they showed up at one point. Then after the days just went by, she shut her self in her room on the internet whenever she had time, and just letting the days roll. By next month she'll be fourteen, and nothing happened, she discovered nothing, and never even saw the real version of those vividly colored images she seen online. She looked down at the article agian, the head line was still screaming at her. She scanned down the screen, and something caught her eyes. A comment on the article that was screen shoted with it.

Man, I remember I almost got kiddnapped when I was 4, dis stuff is scary as hell.

Remember...When I was...four? To Syven the earliest thing she remebered happened when she was eight, she thought that everyone was like that, even people online says that they chant remeber something when they were too young. IS the person who wrote this just special...or...is everyone suppose to be like that, it's only us who can only remeber up to eight years old or so...Syven became caught up in her thoughts, it has been a long time since she thought this hard, she even managed to miss Genie's quiet invitation into the conversation.

She wanted to ask the others what os the most far back thing they could remeber, but this is when the guards marched in. The thought was held back immediately, no matter what the truth is, the guard will try to stop it from being found. Telling the others might mean putting them in danger also. She payed her head on the table and though about her next step. There's no way to ask the people outside about third memory, and it's too suspicious to ask the people inside...She was interrupted when Genie's hai started to turn into oxygen, is she panicking about something? No, we can't stay like this anymore, any hope I have should be given to them.

Syven stood up and moved to the other side of the table, bending down she said to the others:

"Hey, I know it might be weird to ask this, but when did you guys get your powers?"

Right now the first thing is t gather information, then she able to survey everyone one by one when she gets the time. A plan, a plan is on the roll.
 
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Genie was starting to relax and Nikolai smiled to himself, feeling pleased that he'd managed to help her in some way, no matter how small. It wasn't often around here that people got to laugh and the noise seemed strange and foreign but not at all unpleasant. The laughter died off almost as quickly as it had started and Nikolai felt slightly sad as the happy noise faded away, returning them all to the cold silence they were all very familiar with. Nikolai couldn't help but imagine how much better their lives would be if this hadn't happened to them. Would they have families? Friends? Lovers? Would every day be some big grand adventure that was one exciting twist after another? A slow sadness seemed to overwhelm him as his thoughts wandered, forming images that he knew would never be a reality, no matter how hard he wished. When something brushed against his fingers, Nikolai nearly jumped out of his skin. Realizing how silly he must have looked, he smiled sheepishly before seeing the curved metal spoon resting in front of him.

His eyes found Genies and he nodded once, understanding her meaning perfectly. Now it was Nikolai's turn to grasp the spoon as he took it up in his hand without a word. He felt that nothing needed to be said out loud- it was obvious that the spoon signified something greater and Nikolai felt it was a good start. In accepting the spoon he hoped he had said "Sure, we can be friends" but he felt that maybe it might have been something more like "I understand; I'm here". Maybe everyone would feel better about themselves if they just had someone who could understand them and show them that they weren't alone, even when felt like they were the only person in the world. They probably wouldn't see each other very much after right now, since Nikolai was pretty sure the scientists wouldn't allow them to become anything even close to friends, but maybe these memories would help them remember what it felt like to be human.

It suddenly registered with Nikolai that Genie had asked him about his reading. He grinned again, happy to discuss the many, many books he'd read over his time here. "Everything. I like to read everything," Nikolai replied, watching as Genie invited Svyen and James to join their conversation. Nikolai wished that they would decline, feeling like maybe four people would be too much for him to handle without reverting back into his reclusive ways. Genie turned back to him and Koaru and seemed embarrassed, asking if it was okay with them that the other experiments joined their conversation. Of course, Nikolai would never tell her what he actually felt, so he smiled easily, nodding. "I don't care. The more the merrier." Nikolai never got to find out if the other two people were going to accept Genie's offer as two guards entered the mess hall, being more rowdy and obnoxious than usual. "They must be new here," Nikolai realized, scowling in their general direction as if that would make them disappear.

He caught snippets of their conversation and he frowned, unsure of what they were talking about. "She? Who's she?" Nikolai thought confused only a moment before the realization struck him. Of course. The only 'she' who hadn't come down for breakfast yet was Pluto. Anger started to bloom inside of him as he listened to the guards chatter. They were torturing her and probably had been since Steven's incident. Nikolai was going to say something and probably end up getting tortured himself, when he noticed Genie's demeanor change. She mumbled a word or two, her eyes looking panicked as they darted around. More thin wisps of pure oxygen leaked from the girl, her hair almost completely invisible. Nikolai immediately felt the anger change to concern as he turned his attention to helping Genie.

If she completely lost it, she'd be in trouble for sure. The guards that were standing by the wall had already started making their way over to their table, alerted to the sudden commotion by the swirls of oxygen that were radiating into the air, creating a thin layer of mist. "Genie," Nikolai called, getting the frightened girl to look at him. "You're alright. Nothing is going to happen to you, okay? Stay here; you don't have to disappear." Nikolai reached out and grasped her fingers as they passed back and forth from solid to gas. The guards were within striking distance now and Nikolai glared at them, his eyes daring them to come closer. "I wouldn't come any closer, if you know what's good for you," he said, more of a threat than a warning.

He turned his gaze back to Genie once he was sure he'd thoroughly frightened the guards. "Genie, take a deep breath. Here, I'll do it with you," Nikolai breathed in deeply through his nose, waiting for Genie to do the same. "Good. Now let it out," he exhaled slowly though his mouth. Hope washed over him as he watched Genie, the steady stream of oxygen that had been leaking from her body lessening. "Do it again....See? Easy. There's nothing here that's going to hurt you." Once he was sure Genie was calm enough to stay solid, Nikolai looked back over at the guards who were now standing open mouthed about ten feet away from the table. He glared at them again, feeling a slight satisfaction when they cringed. "You're not needed. You can go back to your 'duties' now."

Nikolai realized he was still holding Genie's hands and now that the moment of adrenaline was gone he realized just how tightly he'd been holding on. Feeling unsure, he pulled his hands back, pushing forward his untouched glass of water. "Here, have a drink," He said lamely, not sure what else could be said after what had just happened. "Are you okay?"
 
Genie didn't think she'd ever been brave, not in the way the others here were but it didn't lessen her dissatisfaction at always being scared, the problem with her fear is it started to barrel roll, picking up speed and intensity the longer she felt it, much like Steven's anger. When she got scared she couldn't concentrate, when she couldn't concentrate she couldn't control her powers and when she couldn't control her powers she could really hurt people. The only girl who wasn't there was Pluto, she hadn't been aware of what Pluto had offered to do, the last she remembered was Pluto getting in front of her and glowering at the scientists. Why on earth she would be tortured though? Had she read these people so wrong that she hadn't seen that cruelty? What if this was the punishment they were all going to receive for their outbursts yesterday?

Her mind turned towards her powers then, to the fact she was leaking the smell of ozone and what that could mean for those sitting at her table. The more she focused on attempting to stop it the more out of control it got, her instability coming from her anxiety and the more anxious she got the more unstable she became and it hurt. It hurt so much she couldn't breathe, like a splitting, ripping sensation deep inside her and it forced tears to her eyes that instead of falling rose and dissipated. She was going to hurt people again, they were going to be scared of her again, she could only hope, plead with whatever cruel god watched over them that the scientists sedated her before she did any major damage.

Genie flickered like a ghost from a movie, for a moment she was there then gone, the air in the room being drawn towards her. Internally it was like a tornado, her thoughts were fragmented by pain and fear and she could find no center to hold herself too to try and restore balance. Then it all stopped, or perhaps merely stilled a moment when she felt warmth against her own hand, no one had held her hand since she was ten and the shock of that feeling was enough to partially still the panicked woman. Her eyes, lashes wet with tears but no trace of them, rose from the table top to look who'd touched her, an unreasonable part of her assumed it would have been Steven and yet to her surprise it was Nikolai. Who rather than afraid of the 'monster' seemed concerned for her. How could he be concerned for her, didn't he know the danger he was in. His eyes met hers but kept darting to something behind her, hard as diamonds. The scientists, that was good they had to come and sedate her, she didn't know how to get back from a panic attack, she'd never successfully done so. Being sedated would be horrible, they were just getting to bond but it would keep them alive and life was better.

Still he was holding her hand so tightly, it felt warm and hard and yet strangely soft too, "I...I don't want to hurt you." Barely a whisper, barely words and the closest she could manage to asking him to let the guards sedate her. He didn't listen though, or didn't hear and carried on gripping her hand, he was speaking now and it took all her effort to silence the storm in her head to hear his words. You don't have to disappear. She didn't? Would it be alright if she didn't? Take a breath. It was hard, how was she supposed to? Yet somehow she did, mimicking him and breathing through her nose, concentrating on his voice, his words and the warmth in his hand. I don't want to hurt him. She released the breath slowly, repeating the process when he asked her too and within half a dozen deep breaths she was calmer, much calmer.

Her body had stopped flickering and her hand in his was solid, if not a little chilled, her hair had, for the most part returned, only the tips still dancing faintly until they too calmed and stilled. She carried on though, deep breaths, slow and careful, so simple and yet so effective. Why hadn't they done this before? Or was it some skill he had from his element that allowed him to still her disquieted heart so easily? Carbon could do a lot of things after all, it could be a lot of things so it made sense. She watched his eyes shift to the researchers behind her, by their breathing she guessed they were an arms length away, again he had turned hard as diamond while looking at them. Briefly she gripped his hand tighter, frightened they would sedate her and drag her off anyway, with a tut though they did slouch off and she released a breath she hadn't realised she was holding.

Nikolai quickly took his hand back when everything was done, she wasn't sure if now that it was over the fear had set in or if he just really didn't like touching her, were her hands clammy? She knew they were chilled, something about bad circulation - ironically- meant she had a hard time keeping warm usually, especially after phasing. He didn't seem mad though, or scared, sliding her his water and telling her to drink, she offered him a weak smile and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, nodding faintly as she reached for the glass. "I think so. Thank you. I'm sorry... I put you in a dangerous position. I'm really sorry." She took a sip of the water and briefly glanced at the table, "How did you do that? A-aren't you scared of me? I could have hurt you. Not that I would have on purpose, I'm not like that but..."

Luckily? Her babble was interrupted as Syven spoke up, it was strange to hear her speak since she did so so rarely, or so was Genie's experience. She didn't seem afraid either, why not? Wasn't she some kind of monster? She was Frankenstein's Monster wasn't she? The question was a surprise though and Genie really had to think, especially after everything that had transpired a moment ago, to remember. She took another small sip of the water, the re-hydration helping with both her stability and her memory, "I...I guess I was about nine, maybe ten? I don't really remember, I remember the scientist talking to me, he said he'd saved me because people were mad with me for what I could do. I'm sorry I cant' be more helpful." Glancing uncertainly back to Nikolai she tried another faint smile.
 
Kaoru felt relieved and nodded when Nikolai and Genie motioned for her to sit closer, in which she took her pile of food in her arms and cautiously scooted closer to them. Kaoru continued to stuff her face with food - she was already halfway done with the pile - and smiled politely at Genie when she agreed with not being able to watch the tests. Kaoru felt more comfortable, despite still feeling a bit on edge, she still felt happy that she didn't seem to messing up anything so far.

Kaoru sat quietly, just enjoying listening to everyone else's conversations as they moved onto happier topics. It was just peaceful to listen to the group have a happy discussion, even if Kaoru wasn't talking much in it. Even James, who was too helpful for his own good, was here now. It all felt like they finally had a chance to have a normal discussion without having pesky scientists watch over them. If only it could stay like this forever...

That was until Kaoru's mind flooded with thoughts of Pluto again. The last time she saw Pluto was when she was being escorted away by those guards to do who knows what with her. Kaoru stopped eating, feeling sick just thinking about what was happening to Pluto. Pluto did have a dangerous power, but her heart was in the right place, meaning she knew what was dangerous to do and what wasn't. She only wanted everyone else to not have trouble from the scientists... Pluto couldn't even hear Kaoru while she was being dragged away. Was she going to come back unharmed? Was she even going to come back at all?

Kaoru's worried thoughts paused when Genie asked Nikolai and her about their favorite books, in which Kaoru answered after Nikolai, "Well, books about space are my favorite. Many books have said that 'words cannot describe how vast and impressive space is.' Space feels so oddly familiar yet I've only heard the descriptions of it, y'know? I hope I get to see it one day." Kaoru put back the thoughts of Pluto and tried to finish eating, trying to focus on something better to add to the conversation. Her mind was just too crowded to think of anything interesting to say.

Kaoru imedietly focused on Syven when she started talking, asking about when they got their powers. Kaoru, looked at the others, expecting them to answer first, but instead her thoughts were cut short when Genie started looking, well... transparent of some sort. Kaoru stared at her wide eyed, not sure what to do as Nikolai comforted her, taking her hand. Kaoru felt a tiny empty space in her lungs as she just looked back and forth between Nikolai, Genie, and the guards that were approaching, not sure of what to do. No doubt, Kaoru's hair probably started dimly glowing as her emotions quickly changed from being worried about Pluto to being worried about Genie. Kaoru thought about temporarily blinding the guards for a moment, but quickly decided against it as that would've affected everybody in the room. Kaoru just sat there, shocked, wishing that she was useful enough to try to comfort Genie, but Kaoru had no clue what to do. Kaoru just let Nikolai do his thing, as he seemed to know what he was doing, whether he actually did or not.

The guards were not too far away and no doubt everyone was feeling more defensive with them there. Genie seemed to be settling back down as Nikolai offered water to her. Kaoru's hair settled back down as well, but Kaoru couldn't help but feel bad that she wasn't able to do anything to help Genie. 'What if she didn't like me sitting closer to her?' Kaoru thought, scooting slightly away, not enough for anyone to notice. Kaoru just stared down at her food, finishing up the last pieces, glad that they were all hopefully settling down again. Genie was still babbling on, and Kaoru widened her eyes in disbelief when Genie asked if he was scared of her. Kaoru wanted to hug Genie and go on and on about how she didn't have to worry about them ever being scared of her, but seeing as she just had a panic attack, it probably wouldn't be the best thing to do. Besides, they weren't best friends yet. Kaoru didn't want to seem creepy.

Genie was finally settled down again as she focused her attention back on Syven's question, answering politely. Kaoru softly answered a few seconds after her, "The guards told me I was 11 when I first woke up here. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it's what I was told." and smiled.
 
Nikolai shook his head in slight disbelief. She was the one who had just had a panic attack and almost had to be sedated and yet here she was, showing more concern for him that for herself. Nikolai shrugged at her questions, not sure himself how he'd managed to calm her down so effectively. Instinct, he guessed, was what had guided his actions. "I wasn't scared. I just did what I thought I had to," Nikolai had tried to come up with a more profound response but he didn't have one. It was as simple as what he'd said: he did what he thought was right. He couldn't have just sat here and cowered while Genie got sedated and dragged off to who-knew-where. He didn't think he'd be able to sit idly by no matter what the situation was; it just wasn't in his personality to be useless and he hated feeling powerless or helpless. The scientists had always tried to make him feel that way, though, but Nikolai had never given in. He was always defiant and most of the guards were too scared of him to do much about it. Sure, he got tranquilized more than he liked to remember but it was usually worth it if he got to have some freedom, even if just for a little while.

Nikolai realized that Syven had asked them all about their memories and he furrowed his brow, trying to remember as far back as possible. He wasn't very successful; the earliest memory he managed to dig up was one of waking up here, in a white washed room, rather terrified. He shuttered and immediately forgot that horrible vision and then something else floated to the surface, this time less a memory and more a dream. The vision was still white washed and cold, but this time it was much more comforting than the harshness of the laboratory. He was...outside? In the snow? Nikolai shook his head pushing that aside. Obviously it was just something his imagination had formulated under stress. He'd never been anywhere but this lab, ever since he was 10.

Nikolai looked up at Syven and shrugged, disappointed that he couldn't answer her question any better than that. "I'm sorry, Syven, but the earliest memory I have is from when I was ten," Nikolai frowned and then something else occured to him. Why was Svyen so suddenly interested in all of their memories? Had she possibly discovered something having to do with their pasts before they came to this hell? "Why are you asking, Svyen? Can you remember anything from before you were here?"
 
Pain . . . pain was trivial at this point. I had reached my limit, and I just couldn't bring myself to acknowledge it anymore. Like the doc had always told me, It's all mind over matter. I guess he had been right. But there was no beating this ungodly heat, the suffocating dryness to it. It just felt worse and worse by the hour. I found myself trying to lick my lips to moisten them but was unable. My mouth was so dry. It was almost stale. I hadn't even noticed the door across the room, nor the tell tale sound of weighted foot steps making they're way towards me. The only thing that shook me from my mindless stupor was the sudden sensation of ice cold water being poured over me. The sudden shock of cold water pouring over me shocked my system into overdrive and just like that the pain was back again. The cold water granted a momentary reprieve from the pain but only long enough for it to come back twice as strong, accompanied by the hiss of water evaporating as it touched my hands.

I let out a gut wrenching scream of pain and then just as quick as before I was doused in water again. The pain subsided and I barely had time to roll over onto my back before the pain came back again. That's when I saw the guard standing over me. In one hand he held a nearly empty bucket of water, and by his feet sat another. Even with the pain rushing back through me making my insides feel like they were being lit on fire, I managed to pull myself towards the bucket on the ground. I made sure to be extra careful not to touch it with my hands, lest I ruin the water and the bucket, and dunked my head into the bucket drinking up as much water as I could. I didn't flinch when the guard dumped the last of the water in the other bucket over me again, and by the time the cold subsided I realized it was getting colder in here.

Had I passed the test? Was it over? I pulled my head from the bucket in a desperate gasp for air before rolling back over onto my back panting heavily, every inch of me soaking up the cold from the water. Oh please let it be over. When my eye's opened again, bleary and uncomprehending as they were,I noticed the guard was gone. I was confused at first. He was just here one minute the room was empty again aside from me and the bucket of water that lay beside me. Then came the voice. That same voice from my last test, cold and isolated like a displeased teacher "Now Subject one, how do you feel?"

I was unsure how to answer at first so I started by slowly pulling myself up to my knees, as unsteady as I was, and took a moment to evaluate, speaking out loud as I did so. "Normal motor functions are a little stiff but otherwise unaffected. No physical damage is noticeable as of right now. My lungs hurt slightly and my head is hurting, but no physical trauma is noted. . . " I barely recognized my own voice, there was no emotion. In fact I sounded like one of the doctors doing a routine checkup, and it was slightly unnerving . . . "No noticeable physical injuries are present. I'm not sure of internal injuries however . . ." I was cut off right there by the same disembodied voice telling me to stop. Nothing more. Nothing less. I sat there for what felt like ages before panels started rising up out of the floor stopping just at chest height. That was never good. Then the door at the other end of the room opened and my heart stopped as they released dogs into the room. One two three . . . my god they let in twelve of those things, and they definetly not as friendly as the husky. The mans voice came back again this time seeming almost . . . Amused? The only thing he sad was . . .

"Don't die, Subject One."​
 
Despite how subtle Kaoru had been in her light shuffle away the disruption of the air was enough for Genie to notice, she hoped that Kaoru wasn't afraid of her after what had happened. She wouldn't blame Kaoru if she was of course but it would be such a shame just as they seemed to be finding common ground. Of course, if Kaoru had really been frightened of her she would have moved away lot more than the half inch or so she had shuffled, so it could be just as likely that Kaoru was uncomfortable on the bench and just trying to get herself in a position so she could be comfortable. Whatever the reason it honestly didn't matter, since half an inch was such a minuscule amount compared to how distant she herself had kept herself before today.

Genie listened carefully to Nikolai as he explained that there was no skill or magic to his 'trick' in getting her to calm down, that it was all simply an instinctual reaction. Part of her was concerned of course, that instinct could very well have turned out false, he could have gotten hurt, or worse. Of course part of her was also aware of the slight warmth she felt in her chest, he had known the risks, he wasn't a fool and yet despite that he had taken the risk to grab her and hold onto her rather than back away and let the scientist's deal with it. It made her feel important in a way she hadn't felt in a long time and protected in a way she'd only ever felt in her dreams.

There wasn't a lot she felt she could say that wouldn't have sounded like babble or unnecessary gushing. While she may well have felt special for what he'd done for her he may not have felt the same way about it and thanking him again might have made him irritated rather than happy. So she kept quiet for the time being but she couldn't hide the small private smile that had worked it's way onto her face from his words. Even if they had meant nothing to him, they meant a lot to her and she'd treasure those words for some time to come. It almost felt like they, her, Kaoru and Nik, were taking the first steps to becoming friends and she realised, she really would have liked that.


She was a little saddened when attention turned to Syven, hoping they could just stay in that nice feeling a while longer. Though as Nikolai questioned why Syven was asking Genie too felt a little curious. She had answered the question reflexively, as if Syven had been one of the doctors or researchers who often questioned them and hadn't really thought about the why of the questions. When it was Syven they were talking about it could be as simple as a personal note for her to update on her records or something deeper and more interesting.

Part of Genie didn't want to know, while she was far from happy here most of the time things were, oddly slightly better right then. A quick glance to Kaoru and Nik, even if they didn't want to be her friends and it was only for today, it felt okay to be okay. If Syven had found something, or had some theory it was bound to lead to nothing nice, Genie had wondered a few years ago why she couldn't remember anything before the age of ten, anything before here. The scientists had told her that it was normal when one had had a traumatic childhood, as she apparently had, it was the brain's way of shielding the person from horrific and possibly damaging memories and thoughts.

Though one look at Kaoru told her the pair were very interested in what Syven had to say, usually this would mean she could leave. No one really needed her here anymore, she'd answered Nik's question's and exchanged some words with Kaoru which was a lot more socializing than she'd done for a while now. She doubted anyone would mind her slipping away to return to her room or to be by herself. Though, for the first time in a long while she didn't want to, who knew when she could next be with them like this and wouldn't it just be wasteful to walk away? Even if it was slightly dangerous, for now she'd spend as much time as she could with the people around her.

So the quiet, dull alarm bell in the back of her mind was ignored for now, what harm could come from listening to Syven anyway? She was probably one of the smartest people here, including the scientists and if she really had any information, or knowledge that they didn't wouldn't she have shared it already? So at most Syven had a theory and at least she was just curious, neither of which could do any real harm, right?
 
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Nikolai was watching Svyen intently, his dark brown eyes curious as he waited to hear what she had to say. This was Svyen, after all, and Nikolai knew that if she was attempting to engage in conversation, especially with a topic that peculiar, that she had something important to share. The more he thought about his early memories, the more he felt that something wasn't quite right. He'd been told he'd been rescued from Unfortunately, though, Nikolai would never get to hear what the girl had to say. A scientist holding a clipboard had entered the cafeteria escorted by two guards. The man scanned the room until his eyes rested on Nikolai. With a sigh, Nikolai looked around at the people gathered at the table, feeling more than a little disappointed that his time with them was about to be cut short.

The three men walked over, stopping when they reached the table. "Nikolai, the Doctor would like you to finish your test now," the man holding the clipboard said, pushing up the classes that were resting on his nose with a finger. Nikolai honestly wanted to tell the scientist to go and bother someone else, but instead he simply stood up from the table and shoved his hands in his pockets. The two guards that were with the scientist watched Nikolai's every movement, eyes as wary as ever. Obviously the incident yesterday still had some of the guards a little uneasy. Nikolai ignored them, though, and looked back at the people sitting at the table. "Well, I guess I have to go now," he called, shrugging as he glanced at Genie. Nikolai tried to seem unperturbed

The scientist hadn't waited for Nikolai to excuse himself before walking back toward the door so he was already halfway down the hall way before Nikolai caught up with him. They walked in a stony silence as they made their way through the labyrinth of white, heading deeper into the facility than Nikolai had ever been before. Usually when a test had to be rescheduled they happened in the auxiliary room down the hall from the normal area. It was obvious that wasn't where the scientist was leading him and Nikolai wondered why they'd suddenly switched things up. It wasn't like the Doctor to change his normal routine. Deciding he had more pressing things to worry about, Nikolai shifted his anxiety to his upcoming 'test'. Having witnessed the horrible things the other kids had been subjected to yesterday, Nikolai was sure his test would be no kinder.

His time to worry was ending, however, as the scientist had stopped outside a large set of steel doors. Nikolai felt uneasy as he followed the other man inside. They were standing in a small waiting room like the one in the main testing chamber now, and the man ushered Nikolai toward another set of doors before disappearing into the adjoining observation room. When Nikolai stepped through the doors the scientist had indicated, he immediately knew something was amiss. Instead of the normal long table full of various creatures and plant life that usually was placed in the center of the room, there was nothing.

Hesitantly, Nikolai approached the center of the room and stood on the marked square before facing the darkened window where the scientists stood watching. "We're going to be doing something new today, Nikolai," a voice called, crackling over the intercom. The uneasy feeling that had formed a home in Nikolai's stomach grew and stretched, sending a shiver through him. This wasn't going to be good, he was sure. Nikolai didn't respond as he stared blankly at the window. "Okay, initiate testing," the doctor said, clicking off the intercom. Nikolai braced himself for the worse but instead he was met with a strange sound. He glanced at the door he had entered from curiously. Had they just sealed themselves off...? What was going on here? It was then that Nikolai noticed just how hot the room had grown; it had long passed the point of being stuffy and was now bordering on the verge of being downright uncomfortable.

Sweat had started to form on Nikolai's face and it dripped down in rivulets and his confusion was growing as fast as the heat. By now, the room's temperature was far past just uncomfortable. Now it was scorching and Nikolai felt as if a weight was sitting on his chest, crushing the breath out of him. It was then that he noticed something else about strange: the air seemed to be more still and....heavier? Now, along with the heat, Nikolai felt like a diver that had been dropped hundreds of feet down without a diving suit. And then the mystery clicked. The heat and pressure all made sense now and Nikolai wanted to scream. They were trying to see how far they could compress him. They were trying to make him a diamond.

Nikolai had long since dropped to his knees out of weakness, the heat and rising air pressure just too much to allow him to stand, and he rested his head on the concrete floor almost wanting to laugh at how ridiculous this was. Sure, he was essentially a walking talking carbon reservoir but trying to turn him into an actual diamond was absurd. Nikolai figured that the scientists weren't really trying to replicate the forces of nature to create something as superficial as a diamond but to test something else; his durability under different conditions. Nikolai knew that carbon had many chemical properties and he guessed it only made sense for the crazy scientists to want to test them out, even if that meant essentially killing him.

It felt like a lifetime had passed in mere minutes when Nikolai lifted his head from the floor as high as he could manage to get a glimpse of his skin. The once peachy color of his flesh had taken on a more crystal shine and the surface was now radiating enough heat to rival the temperature of the room. Nikolai literally felt as if someone had dropped him to the center of the Earth. His breathing was becoming more and more labored as the seconds ticked by and the pressures increased. Just when Nikolai was sure he was going to die, he heard the harsh sound of the intercom click on. "That's enough for today," the doctor's voice echoed, and Nikolai could hear the doors unseal themselves. Almost instantly the heat around him disappeared and the pressure lessened and Nikolai couldn't be more relieved as his breathing slowly came back to normal. It took a while of laying on the floor gasping before he had the strength to move.

By this time, however, there were two guards in the room, each one reaching out to grab him. He tried to resist, although feebly, and he used all the strength he could manage to try and shove them away. He didn't want them to touch him. He'd be fine on his own, if only they'd leave him where he was. The rough hands of the guards lifting him off the floor were the last thing Nikolai could remember before passing out.

When he awoke, he was in his room again. "That's twice in two days I woke up here, confused and in the dark," he thought, sitting up slowly. It seemed like he'd recover after all, even if his body was sore and stiff, his joints and bones having hardened significantly under the pressure of the test. Nikolai felt like they'd return to normal in a day or so, but right now he felt as if he'd been hit by a train. Everything hurt. With a groan, he managed to climb out of bed and hobble over to the door. It was unlocked and Nikolai sighed happily when the door swung open. Not even bothering to change clothes, Nikolai wandered down the hallway, noticing how dark it was. "It must be the middle of the night," he thought, grateful for the absent guards as he rounded the corner. "Good. I just want to be alone right now. I don't need guards following me around like flies."

It took longer than normal, but Nikolai made it to the empty lounge like room three halls over without any trouble. Thankfully, the Doctor still hadn't figured out this was his escape route. There was a huge unbolted, old fashioned window in this room and it was just large enough for a person to fit through. Nikolai squeezed through and took in a deep breath of fresh night air. It had been too long since he'd done this- far too long.
 
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Steven was tossed roughly into the room stumbling over himself. "Go to the back and face the wall." the order was given to him by a very grave sounding voice, it wasn't barked at him insultingly, it just, was said. Steven did as he was instructed "Try anything and we'll drop you again. Your not to turn around until you hear the door close." He grunted to convey his understanding of the threat. He heard someone approach. There was a metallic clunk as he felt his left hand was released. A few seconds went past and there was another as his right hand was also released. He heard footsteps retreat, soon followed by another pair. There was a loud slow creak. Several light metallic clinks sounded followed quickly by one solid clunk. The door was closed, and Steven was trapped in here.

He turned around. Sitting on the bed and leaning forward on his knees he began looking around the very simple room. The floor was dirty cold cement, the walls were Iron like he was. There was no window, just two pathetic light bulbs hanging from wires that lit the room surprisingly well with dull light. There was a small PA and the most stereotypical security camera you'd ever laid eyes on (little blinking red light included.) up in the corner to the right of the door. There was a small toilet in the corner probably two feet from the bed, it was tin, or some other thin shitty metal. The bed frame itself was iron as well, attached to the wall, and held up by chains. There was a thin crappy wool blanket and and even crappier thin pillow. The whole room couldn't have been more than 35 square feet.. It would be rough to fall asleep here for more reasons than the obvious. Steven was an extrovert and got his energy from dealing with other. Isolation would be harder on me than any of the others. Well maybe that wasn't fair and selfish even of him to think, but the way Steven saw it, most of the other always isolated themselves anyway, sure they'd have been in a more uncomfortable room, than usual, but still, isolation was isolation. There were a few other extroverted experiments, but they didn't get along with the guards and staff like Steven had. Steven, was the only experiment to actually have friends. He was suddenly overcome with a wave of emotions, guilt, sorrow, guilt about the sorrow, anger, sorrow that he didn't feel guilty about, loneliness and a few others. He'd been selfish. He had people just like him that needed him and he'd been too fucking blind to see it, and he felt horrible about it, he'd deserted them. And he felt furious with himself for being so naive. He was sad moreover because, the staff. They'd all been his friends and now they weren't. He knew literally every one of them by name. He was going to miss them, and he felt guilty that he was going to miss them. He was furious with himself for being naive, and while his anger at the earlier tests had subsided, he was now furious with the Scientist and the staff. They'd been doing it for weeks, lying to them, to him for weeks, maybe longer. They'd hurt his friends and he was livid about that, but then again, so had he. He was never there for any of them. And Genie. They'd been best friends for years, and then she had hurt him, and retreated and he'd just... let her... Never again will I abandon her. Or any of my new friends. It was a pledge he made to himself on the spot and he was never going to break it. If he got out of this prison, when he got out of this prison he was going to march right up to her, and be there for her. Whether she wanted it or not. His belly was churning with emotion, he was breathing inconsistently and his heart was beating in his throat.

He wasn't really sure how he could be there for them all. I mean honestly his powers weren't that impressive. He was strong and he could survive getting shot at, but the others. There were at least 2 people that could just like, atomize shit by looking at it! Genie could become a ghost and whatsherface could hack into ANYTHING almost instantly! He hardly had the coolest, or even the most useful powers. H thought about it for a while and decided he would start working out, properly. I mean he worked out, but it was like once a week. He was going to really work out, increase his potential, hone his abilities and become someone that could be there for his friends. Protect his friends, protect Genie.

Steven realized that there was a small puddle collecting between his feet. He looked at it curiously, blinking. Something dropped from his eye into the puddle, splashing and creating grand ripples on a miniature scale. Steven put his hand to his cheek. Tears were openly flowing down. Steven was crying. But I've never cried.... he thought to himself. It wasn't like a machismo issue or that he rarely cried. Steven had physically, for as long as he could remember never actually cried. It just wasn't something he did, and wasn't how his body and mind expressed sorrow. Steven wiped away all the tears he could, realizing he had no where to wipe it off. He eventually chose the opposing wall, leaving a long smear of water across it. It quickly evaporated.

Several hours passed. Silence punctuated by sniffles as he let himself cry and get it out. To be honest, it felt good. Steven looked around for the 400th time. There was literally nothing to do. The PA buzzed, "Steven we are sending in a doctor to make sure the Taser's didn't do permanent damage. He will be accompanied by an armed guard. Against the back wall and place your hands on the wall." Steven sat still for a few second before he got up doing as instructed. As conflicted as he was, and as angry as he was with the staff, he wanted to stop twitching more. There was still a residual charge in his bones, causing his muscles to spasm occasionally. The room was filled with the sound of turning gears, followed by a loud clunk and slow creak. A voice spoke to Steven. "Please have a seat Steven, we need to check your vitals to make sure your not going to die." Steven scoffed You have wonderful bedside manner doc. he said sarcastically. He sat down moving slowly as to not provoke the guard. Sitting down he held out his arm for a BP test. The doctor shook his head. "We need to ground you first." he said, taking a long copper rod that the guard handed him. He tossed it to Steven, who caught it completely reflexively. Steven inhaled sharply in pain as he felt the remaining charge flow into the copper, shooting out the ends a bit. The bar dropped with a clang.
It proceeded like a normal physical after that. Breath in, breath out. Follow my finger, turn your head and cough, the whole 9 yards. He was extremely efficient and finished in minutes. To be honest though, Steven could have been bleeding with bones protruding from his arm, and the doctor would have probably written him off as healthy. As they left Steven asked when food would be brought by, to which they responded by closing the door. Steven waited for what he felt was another hour or two before deciding it wasn't being provided to him as punishment. He pulled off his shirt and laid down, getting under the blanket and tried to fall asleep. A difficult task as he was forced to listen to the operetta his stomach was conducting, but one, after another few hours he was ultimately successful in.

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He woke up with what he would later classify as the worst morning mouth he'd ever had as well as being quite hungry and thirsty. Steven generally woke up around 9:30, so he knew it was some time around them. He looked up at the camera. I know I'm being punished, but can I have a glass of water? There was no response except the blinking of the red light on the camera, letting him know it was functional. Now Steven knew it was ridiculous, but he felt like it was taunting him. Asshole. He thought to himself as he looked around. Can I have something to read? It was another fruitless question but Steven had to ask. He sat there in silence for a few minutes, making no effort to wake up before he finally thought to himself Fuck this I'm going back to sleep. and did so promptly. He woke up again at a later time, but now he was completely lost on when. He had no clue if he'd slept for hour or 7. The morning mouth was gone though, kind of, so that was nice. He looked around for food, water and reading material. Nothing. He tried to go back to sleep again, but he couldn't. If he could sleep through whatever duration his sentence was, then he couldn't be lonely or go insane form fucking boredom. He got up and grabbed his shirt off of the floor, putting it back on. He was looking around again, hands on his hips. He could rip the toilet off of the wall? It'd be entertaining for a few seconds, but he was sure the effects wouldn't be positive. Either he'd be subdued, or they's simply do nothing and let him deal with a pipe shooting pissy water like a hose for his incarceration. He decided not to. With nothing else to do he Dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups. When he got tired of those he started doing sit-ups. This went on for hours, doing every exercise under the sun that he could think of after what felt like at least half the day, Steven got up panting from having done an hour of high knees. It had to be dinner time by now and Steven's stomach was starting to really become upset with him, he didn't usually skip meals. The room spun for a minute while Steven tried to find his balance. In hindsight, he began to think maybe working out while dehydrated and having no food in my system wasn't such a good idea. He sat down, making sure to take controlled, full breaths. Now that he wasn't working out, he realized how nearly 2 days with now water was affecting him. He hadn't had to pee since he'd been thrown in here and his lips were cracking. His mouth, while still tasting like literal shit was also incredibly dry. He decided he would use his little saliva to swallow instead of using to wet his lips. It might help. He also had a splitting headache and when he stood to use the restroom next, the hole room began to spin and he just sat his ass right back down. I need water... he thought to himself desperately, looking around anywhere for any kind of water. There was no sink, the only source of water was the toilet.No. He wasn't that bad. He was just go to sleep and hope there was water in the room when he woke.

There wasn't. And Steven was in rough shape. His lips were cracked, and he could barely sit up. He rolled out of his bed, literally, hitting the ground with a thud. His headache had gone full migraine, he couldn't get any moisture from his mouth, he was having trouble remaining balance while he tried to stand, he was panting and he could feel his heartbeat going a million beats a second. He could barely think straight but after what was a very painful indeterminable time span of cognitive function, he had one word to say. Water It was barely a whisper and he started to crawl his way to the back wall.

Thankfully he was spared the embarrassment of what he was about to do. His severe dehydration had finally reached the 'unconsciousness' symptom and fell to the ground, down for the count. He woke up on a stretcher seeing ceiling tiles pass overhead and muffled noise of people talking. Water...please... A doctor looked down at him "No can do kid, your severely dehydrated, water into your system right now would cause shock and you'd die. We've got you on an Iv and whenyourfeel..." Exactly what he never found out because he passed out again. When he woke up again he was in a hospital bed. Infirmary wing he lifted his hand to his head to scratch his nose, and he could. Well I'm not restrained he thought optimistically. He opened his eyes to look around. He had IV in his right arm and was hooked up to a... hospital thingy... he wasn't really sure what there were called, but he was hooked up to one. There was a guard in the armchair reading a magazine. So I'm not restrained anymore? he asked rhetorically, the guard looked up and before he could speak Steven kept going Can you get a nurse? I'd like water. The guard got up and walked over to Steven's bed, he picked up the clicker that was attached and pressed the red button on it. "Now you can do it yourself it next time." The guard went back to reading and a nurse walked it. They talked for a bit about what had happened and what was up with him medically speaking. Well he'd passed out, duh, after 2 and a half days without water the dehydration had leveled him. After that he'd pretty much stayed unconscious for the last day. Apparently when that happened the doctor said enough had him released to the medical wing, and after the doctors released him, he'd be free to leave. Steven was given all the water he wanted, which was quite a lot. He waited in the hospital all morning, a few nurses came in, checked on him an odd doctor or two, but it wasn't what he'd been waiting for. He'd been waiting for the Scientist to come in and talk to him but nothing all day. He'd been fed breakfast and it was 11:30 when another doctor came in. Steven turned off the TV and looked up. Whats up doctor? "Well Steven" he said beginning to flip through his chart "Your still dealing with adverse symptoms form dehydration but with a portable IV drip, you'll be able to move around and return to day to day life." Steven smiled, that was excellent news, it had been 3 days since he'd been out with everyone. He was in sore need of some human interaction with people who didn't hate him, and he was super worried about everyone else, he wasn't sure how they'd react to him and he was nervous. He threw the sheets off of his legs and started to get out of bed. "Woah there white lightning" the doctor said holding up a hand to stop him, Steven stopped and looked up vaguely confused. "Number 1, we need to unhook you from the Cardiac monitor, number 2, you need to continue to drinking water all day. I want you to drink at least 9 of these before lights out" He held up a large water bottle that Steven thought belonged to him. He cleared his throat looking more serious. "And Steven, we can only let you out on your word you'll behave." It was weird to hear that directed at him, he always behaved. He looked at the doctor a tad worried. Uh... yeah. Yeah I can do that he said kinda slowly. It was an awkward silence but he supposed he should be happier about it. Had anyone else acted out like he had, they'd have probably been treated much worse and getting out would have been much more stringent than a simple, will you behave now? The doctors got his chest patches off, he put on his civvies and he was out within the half hour and knew that there was still a half hour left of lunch being served so if he hurried he might be able to catch someone still in the cafeteria. Unfortunately hurrying was a difficulty for him currently as he had to move slowly to wheel his IV pole around with him, and this thing sucked cock, so it was really more carrying it around over his shoulder. He finally rounded the corner, seeing a group of them sitting at a table it looked like everyone, but it might not have been, he wasn't sure he couldn't really see that far. He walked up smiling and giving them a wave when he got close enough that they noticed him. Steven could barely see them from where he was on the other side of the cafeteria. He was slightly nearsighted, but it didn't matter usually because the only 2 rooms that were big enough for things to be far enough away that Steven couldn't see them, was the mess or the testing chamber (but none of his tests involved looking at things that were far away so it didn't really matter, sorry random tangent). He decided then that he'd start wearing them more often. By the time he was done with his raging ADD he was already at the table. He answered all the standard questions he thought he was going to have to, but didn't it get too deep, the first chance he got he spoke up loud enough for them all to hear. I have something to say. Everyone was sitting together, how odd. He thought

Guys... I just wanted to say I'm sorry, for, well for a lot. I know none of you have ever seen me like that and it's not one of my proudest moments letting myself get like that and you all having to see that. I hope it doesn't happen again... uh Carbon! He looked at carbon, rubbing the back of neck with a nervous chuckle. Sorry about the couch, I uh..wasn't really thinking, I hope I didn't didn't hurt you man. And to everyone here. I'm really sorry. When I was in isolation ward, it occurred to me that the people I should be close to are you all, not the staff.... duh right? Steven suddenly realized halfway through the sentence how dumb he sounded. Like they'd all just become best friends suddenly and ride off into the sunset together. I should have been there more to stand up for you all, and I wasn't and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry that I let you all be around me without really making any effort to befriend you. I'm sorry I don't actually know most of your names... Steven's face suddenly turned pretty red with embarrassment. He didn't fucking know their goddamn names. I'm an asshole. And I know I probably don't deserve it, and understand if your answer is 'Go to hell Steven.' but if you all'd give me a chance I won't let you down again. He looked up. He'd said what he'd wanted to say to everyone now all that remained is was he wanted to say to Genie. He should probably do it later, but he knew if he stopped now gathering the courage later would be much hard. So he turned a bit so he was primarily facing her. And you Genie, I'm sorry to you more. We were close and we were friends and then we had that little accident, and I mean I never held it against you, it was just that and accident. But when you retreated, I let you without a fight, and that's not how friends treat each other, and I'm sorry I abandoned you like that, I'm sorry I didn't fight for our friendship, and I'm sorry I let you go... He was finished, he'd said everything he needed to. He was sweating slightly form nervousness, his heart was beating loud enough he was pretty sure the other could hear it over their chewing and he was weak kneed and it had nothing to do with his dehydration. He was also super embarrassed still from talking to Genie about something so serious in front of everyone, like he'd just asked her marry him or something. He stood there nervously wondering what their verdict was.

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Okay so I was really bored and REALLY wanted to post so that's why I wrote this post. It;s completely arbitrary and should in no way shape or form affect your characters. Until the lunch room bit that is, but if you don't want, your character doesn't have to be there for that. Anyhow, y'all can keep posting regularly, I just wanted to join the posting party. But again, my time in Isolation shouldn't affect you directly. other than wondering where the fuck is Steven? Anyhow, as you were.
 
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As soon as the dogs spotted me they split up, just like a pack, and began to circle around me. I tried best to track them all but there were too god dmn many of them. I hadn't even noticed when one of them crept up behind me until it was too late. It let out a snarl before pouncing at me, my reaction to reach out with my hands to stop it. But . . . my god, they took my gloves. s soon as it's face made contact with my hand it had just enough time to let out a pained whine before it's face just vaporized into dust. The poor thing collapsed ontop of me coating me in the ash like substance, but that didn't really bother me. It was when I felt the warm wet rush of blood pouring over me, mixing with the ash into a dark brown substance, that I freaked out. I frantically tried to shove it off of me cuasing even more of it to just atomze coating me with even more blood and ash. When I finally got out from under it and started backpedeling on all fours I heard a click of an intercom and then that new voice again . . . .


"Listen up subject one! Don't hesitate to kill anything that we throw at you. You are not a human being with moral's and feelings. You. Are. A. Weapon. You are not like the other's, and I've realized that your time with them has oonly served to dull you. So you either kill like the weapon you are, or It's back to isolation."

Hereing those words made something snap inside of me. Rage filled ever pour, ever crevace of me, and before I realized what I was doing I was on my feet charging one of the dog's. I let into it hard bringing my right foot right up under it's jaw and as it realed back letting out a small whine I curled my left hand into a fist and swung it to my left catching one of them upside the head. The left half of it's head nearly exploded into ash as blood sprayed from it''s face and I didn't care. I kept going. I charge the dog I had just kicked and before it could even so much as percieve me I had tackled it to the ground bringing my hands to it's head and . . . poof it was just gone. The on;ly reminder that there had been a head there before coming in the spray of blood that erupted from the knewly bare veins left open. As The blood sprayed in my face I finally lost it. I broke.

The next few minutes were a blur of dulled senses and instincts. The smell of the blood on my skin, the taste of iron and ash in my mouth. The force of getting tackled to the ground by a dog. The pain of having a chunk of skin bitten out of my side. It all went unnoticed as I continued my slaughter. When I finally came to I was on my knees staring at the observation window, covered in blood and ash and a congealed mixture of both. What remained of the dogs was scattered across the entirety of the room, the usual white washed walls and floors stained with crimson. Then I heard it. A door unsealing and opening on the far side of the room. When I turned to look I didn't see what I had expected. There was no scientists. No armed guard with a tranquilizer. Only six men in orange jumpsuites, each with an identification number stitched in, each carrying a different weapon. One was carrying a metal rod, another a simple two by four. another one had what looked to be a military machete, the last three all had hand guns of cerying calibers. Why? Then came the voice again distinct and unwelcomed . . .

"Subject one, you have surpassed our expectations. We only have one last test. Kill those men, and you will be free to go."
 
Genie vaguely noticed the guards and scientist enter the room but paid them no mind until they began approaching the table. Who had they come for, hopefully it wasn't her she wanted to stay here and talk with the others. Nikolai's name was called out and Genie's eyes flicked towards him, they wanted to continue his test and she had no idea what horrors would lay before him when they did so. Judging by her test and the sound of Kaoru's she didn't think it would be safe, she partially hoped for Nikolai to rebel, to tell them he wasn't going but the sensible part of her would have scolded him for the very thought of arguing. The only way this place got easier was to do what you were told, it wasn't a good way to live but it sure beat punishment here. She tried to offer Nik a reassuring smile as he stood but it was tinged with concern, she wanted to tell him to be careful but that really wasn't much of an option so instead she uttered very quietly. "Be safe."

Then he was gone through those doors to whatever test he had left to perform, she didn't dare speculate what it might be for someone who could control Carbon, there weren't many pleasant thoughts and is she started to lose it now she would be faced with the tranquilizer for sure this time. So instead she focused on waiting and listening for Syven's reply, though it seemed the researcher from before had decided her time was up, approaching the table he gently cleared his throat to gain her attention before speaking up, "We need to do a medical check on you Genie, can you follow me please?" Blinking slowly she nodded her head and glanced briefly to the others at the table, she offered them a reassuring smile and a small wave as she stood up to follow the scientist out of the room.

Once they were alone in the hallway she found herself asking, "Why don't you let us spend time together?"
"Because its dangerous Genie, you know that. Those people in there, you are all dangerous in your own way. That boy, Nikolai, do you really think he'll be there to help you every time you have a panic attack? Do you really think he hasn't got better things to do than babysit you and your mood swings? He only helped you because he was there, not from the goodness of his heart but because he was bored. And Neon, Kaoru. She has left three men with sight problems and another blind from losing her temper before. We don't like keeping you separated but it is for your own good, you could hurt each other, badly. We learned that the hard way with you."
"O-oh. But..."
"Genie please, I know it must have felt nice to talk with people your own age but they don't care about you, they never have. Nikolai was saving his own skin, he doesn't care about you. Kaoru was too scared of you to move and Syven, she barely registered you were there. Does that sound like people you want to spend more time with?"
"I...I guess not." She didn't think what he was saying was true, they didn't seem scared of her but the rest, about it being dangerous, that sounded at least partially true. "I'm sorry to be so harsh Genie. I don't like upsetting you."

Truth be told the man didn't care but they'd learned a long time ago the softly softly approach was the best for keeping Genie sedate and easily manipulating her. Even before they'd picked her up she had had trust issues, strange as she'd had such a nice family by the looks of things. Of course they'd never tell them the reason they were kept apart was to stop them growing close to one another, if they started caring about one another there was bound to be trouble, or so the lead scientist thought. First it started with caring, then came resentment for this place and then all it would take is one spark and the lot of them would rebel. While the guards had guns and bullets, tazers and tranquilizers what chance did they honestly have against their creations if they really, truly, decided they had had enough?

"Here we are Genie." He said, motioning her into a smaller medical room, she smiled gently to the man and nodded, slipping inside without another word and he left her there. Soon enough one of the nurses came in and smiled at her. "Can you undress for me and get up on the bed please?" Genie complied, though not without a high level of embarrassment and self-consciousness. "Oh Genie come now, I've been doing your examinations since you were barely tall enough to see the top of the bed. Why...I remember when you were little you used to have me pick you up and...." The nurse suddenly looked as embarrassed as Genie felt and blushed with a nervous laugh, "Sorry, that's really unprofessional of me."

What followed was the usual routine checks, first she looked for bruises or any sign of trauma to the body, then she checked her abdomen for any damage there. After that she was allowed to put her clothes on and had her heart rate checked, followed by her blood pressure and reflexes. Her ears and eyes were checked and then finally her head was felt for any unnoticed damaged there. She pulled off the plaster on her cheek showing a cleaned wound and two small butterfly stitches. The nurse frowned at the sight and shook her head finding a fresh plaster to go on top and handing Genie another. "Change the plaster again tomorrow and then after that you won't need one." She said, shortly after she weighed Genie and checked her height and gave her a thermometer to check her temperature. When all was said and done the Nurse smiled and gave a nod, "You are the picture of health aside that cut on your cheek. Your free to go."

She didn't know if there was much point returning to the cafeteria, the conversation had likely continued without her and it was probably rude to just up and walk back in on it. She didn't think she had the confidence to do so either, so when the decision came, left to her room or right to the cafeteria she went left. The scientists were probably right anyway, they probably didn't care whether she was around or not and more than that it likely was dangerous for them to all be close like that, she'd very nearly lost it there in the cafeteria. If it hadn't been for Nikolai, he was so nice to her but what if he had done it to protect himself not to help her, what if he honestly didn't care?

She leaned heavily on the door to her room for a moment, sliding down it until she was sat with her knees pulled close to her chin. Tears were falling down her face again but this time she didn't care, she spent so much of her time holding her powers in check, every waking moment was spent fighting them, every moment of every day, her only reprieve from it being here in her room or out in the testing chamber. It was so exhausting both mentally and physically and when she was around people it was even harder. She had to hold herself together, literally, and appear to be able to hold a conversation too but it had been worth it hadn't it? Even if it all was a lie she had spoken with people her own age for a while and they'd seemed to be happy.

The air in the room had grown thicker, the oxygen being drawn to Genie as she quietly wept against her door, here it was safe to do this, to let go, to just stop trying, even if it was only for a few minutes. Her hands and feet flickered, her hair half disappeared and the pungent smell of sweet ozone slipped under her door. She was so frustrated, so sick of trying so hard to have so little reward. Sure they treated her well enough, she obeyed, she did as she was told, she gave them no reason to be angry with her and she'd get CD's, she'd get a new book but now she knew what she wanted, she wanted friends and the people here weren't going to let her have them. The thing was she agreed with them, she could have killed everyone in that room earlier over something small, something she'd never gotten an explanation too, was it really worth that risk? Could any of them honestly say she'd never have a reason to be scared again?

With a frustrated scream -something she never did in public and rarely in private- she swept her arm across the room, saturating it with the stolen Oxygen, things flew from her bed side table, her hair brush jumped off the dresser, her bed unmade itself and the clock jumped off the wall, shattering as it hit the floor. She couldn't take this anymore, it was all too much and she eyed the fragments of broken glass, she just wanted the pain to stop.
 
Genie had never thought of taking her own life before, as hellish as this place could be she'd have her private tantrum or be sedated and that would be the end of it. She'd force all the pain, all the negativity to the back of her mind and lock it in a box. Over the years it had become very full and perhaps this had been the straw that broke open the catches and let loose all those thoughts fears and pains she'd spent so long ignoring. Was this her life now, a series of tests, experiments, exams, needless violence with no hope of ever having friends, being so close to people that might have been, or could have been friends but knowing they would be denied that right. Was just surviving like this enough? Did she really want to spend every minute, every day for the rest of her life, never letting her powers slip, not even for a moment while she was tested and experimented on? Wouldn't it be easier to just let go of it all, to end it now while she had one good memory, before it got tarnished and sullied by life.

She knew the guards would come soon, the camera in her room would alert them to her outburst and her eyes hadn't moved from a wickedly sharp piece of glass. Quickly she moved towards it, slipping it up her sleeve while she continued to pick up the shards. By the time the guards came in she had tided up most of the glass, they asked her what happened and she made an excuse, she relaxed and her powers went wild again. They finished tidying up the shards and took away the broken clock, promising her they'd do more control training tomorrow and then they left. More training, she didn't want more training, she wanted grass and trees, birds and butterflies and friends, real friends she could laugh with and share her worries with.

She sat herself down by the door again, out of sight of the camera -a blind spot she had not known about prior- and took the shard from her sleeve. It glinted like a wicked jagged grin, mocking her, daring her and frightening her all at once. In it she saw her reflection, red eyed, puffy cheeked with pink tear trails from where she was crying. She looked a mess and it only made things worse, would she be considered cute if she wasn't fatal to those who came near her? Would someone think she was pretty? It was pointless wondering because she was not without her powers and there was no cure for what she was, no boy would ever say she was beautiful and ask her to dance because they'd be too busy being afraid of her.

She rose the shard and glanced at her wrist, her hand shook and the tears fell again but this, she thought, was for the best, hesitating slightly she pressed the glass to her flesh and watched the first bead of dark red blood rise from her pale white skin.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

It was dark when she half staggered, half sneaked out of her room, for that she was grateful, she didn't want anyone to see her right now, not after what had just happened. She got part way down the corridor before she heard a door open, pressing herself into a dark shadowy crevice she held her breath and waited. Rounding a corner and walking down the adjoining hall strode Nikolai, he looked distant from what she could tell and he smelled vaguely musty, his test had probably been very hard. She almost called out to him, he was so close she wouldn't have had to speak very loudly for him to hear her but the doubts the researchers had put in her mind reared their heads, she didn't want him to see her like this anyway.

Instead she waited until she could barely hear his foot steps and then slipped away from the wall, stepping over the small spatter of blood and continuing the way he had just been towards the infirmary, leaving an small, neat trail of blood in her wake. "Nurse?"
"Genie? It's getting late but I'm glad your here I've got something for yo--" The nurse was stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Genie, her dress was stained red and her hair matted with sweat from effort. One hand was bloody and clasped over her opposite wrist and she had clearly been crying. "I think...I think I've done something really stupid." She whimpered, the nurse promptly shut and locked her office door, slipping an arm around Genie and bought her further into the room without saying a word.

The nurse took her to the sink and ran he tap thrusting Genie's arm under it to wash away the blood, "What happened, why did you do this?" Genie couldn't answer, she'd been so stupid. Dying was final, once you died there was no chance at friends, at a better life, at ever seeing a real butterfly up close. There was no chance for a boy to tell her she was pretty or to have someone ask her to dance. It had been stupid and she knew, she knew she didn't want to die but she'd already started cutting her wrist, luckily -as the nurse soon found- she had been so hesitant and clearly unstable that the wounds were not deep enough to course lasting damaged. The nurse took a gauze and held it tightly over the wound, urging Genie to take over after a minute or so and to keep pressure on the wound.

What came next was the skill of a professional, Genie was warned the anesthetic would hurt more than the stitches and that if she used anesthetic she would have to say why. She gave Genie a block to bite on and slipped on a breathing mask before taking the needle to the Oxygen girl, using a couple of sutures to make sure the wound stayed sealed she covered it with a gauze and wrapped it in a thin layer of bandages. "Now listen, I'm not going to say anything about this, if I do you'd be in a lot of trouble for what you just pulled. So please don't get me in trouble and let the guards see this alright?" She gestured to the bandaged arm and Genie meekly nodded, "You didn't loose too much blood but I need you to drink at least two pints of water tonight, I'll give you some vitamin powders to put in them to boost your immune system, drink plenty tomorrow as well and please, Genie. Don't scare me like this again."

The nurse sounded surprisingly genuine, with a sheepish smile she reached into her pocket and handed Genie a lollipop, "Sour apple, I know it's your favourite. Your probably getting too big for lollies now but I wanted to give it to you anyway." Genie offered a soft smile and took the lolly, "...Thank you."

When she left the office she realised the adrenaline must have worn off, she felt so tired and heavy she wasn't sure she'd make it back to her room but with the lollipop and the vitamin powders in her pocket she made her way towards the kitchen. She took a seat at the table there after pouring some water, getting back her breath and waiting for the powders to dissolve, stirring it lethargically with a spoon. She glanced to the window only because movement caught her eye and upon squinting she made out a shape outside, she couldn't quite tell who it was but as hurriedly as she could she got up and with glassi n her good hand she slipped back to her room.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The morning came like a kick in the face, the light seeped into her room but as she looked to the clock to find a time she was reminded of what had happened the night before. The throbbing pain in her arm would have been a good indication but the headache she had was somewhat dulling her senses to it. Feeling as if she hadn't slept at all she yawned and gingerly stretched before going through her limited wardrobe to fins something suitable to wear. Most of her clothes were dresses and shirts, things that easily fell off when she transformed and didn't limit her movement. Digging deeper she found a large pale pink sweater, it was made of the kind of wool that looked fluffy and was warm and soft as it felt, slipping it on over her summer dress she pulled the sleeves gingerly over the bandages, frowning at them faintly. She was such an idiot.

Gingerly she brushed her hair, opting to keep it in a low ponytail today so that it would require minimum maintenance, she slipped on her shoes and then hesitated, what if others were getting breakfast too? She'd have to see Kaoru and Nikolai and somehow be okay. So she didn't go to breakfast, she busied herself with meaningless little chores, she cleared up - as best she could- the stain from her floor, she picked up and replaced all the things that had fallen after her outrage yesterday and made sure to make her bed neatly. By the time she was done it was closer to lunch time than breakfast so she decided to sit down and listen to some music.

Her headache only got worse though and by lunch time it was unbearable, plus she'd promised the nurse she'd stay hydrated and fed to help the healing process. So nervously she got from her bed and left her room, making her way as slowly as possible to the cafeteria. What if they didn't want her there, what if she was unwanted after all? She hesitated by the door before heading inside, rather than look around though she walked a straight path to the fridge. She took a satsuma, banana and fixed herself a sandwich before getting a glass of water and subtly pouring the rest of the vitamin powder from the night before into it. Giving it a quick stir she took her plate of food and her drink and made her way to a table, sitting at the furthest end of it and carefully, awkwardly, began trying to peel her orange. She was left handed by nature so the peeling wasn't the hard part, it hurt to grip things at the moment and her right hand didnt' want to hold the orange still as she peeled.
 
Kaoru had been sitting in silence, trying to keep her mind empty. She had too much time to think back when they were locked up for 3 days, the last thing she wanted to do was stress herself even more. However, almost as if on cue, scientists walked back in asking Nikolai to finish his test, which did anything but calm her down. She was even more nervous as she stiffened, but Kaoru could only manage to stare down at the ground and gulp, hearing Genie quickly whisper to Nikolai.

Kaoru crossed her arms over the table and laid her heads on her arms. No one said anything as Kaoru slipped into her own thoughts, going into her own little world. She didn't notice anything around her, she didn't bother to see what anyone else was doing, she just didn't want to be alone but another part of her yearned to get away from everybody. Everyone was going to be taken away from her again and again. She even let her mind get so naive to think that they all would be able to have a normal conversation and a normal friendship... She could help but pity herself as she realized how stupid she was. Everyone would get pulled away from each other; The scientists would never allow for such happy conversations to go on... What was the point of getting close to each other anyways? For the millionth time, - even though Syven was still in the room and Genie may or may not of left already - Kaoru felt alone. It was a neverending cycle of yearning for friendship, being tricked into thinking that everyone was starting to get along, and then being disappointed and never wanting to go near anyone ever again.

Kaoru now completely buried her head in her arms, trying to stop her red puffy face from being noticeable to anyone that was still in the room. Kaoru could slightly see light coming from her hair meaning that her uncontrollable emotions were showing, but she didn't care as she just hid her face even more. Eventually, her lonely and desperate thoughts crowded her mind and she just wished for her mind to stop and shut up, to just give her a break for once... Why did she have to care so much for people who barely even recognized her? Her eyes closed, her whole body became tired, she didn't even care that she was in the cafeteria, she just let sleep take her away as she went into her own perfect fairytale land.

----------

Kaoru awoke to the stirring of a drink, she lifted her head up and sighed, trying to recollect what had happened before she fell asleep at the table. She wiped the drool of the side of her cheek with her sleeves and stretched her arms outwards, unconsciously yawning at the same time. Kaoru took a couple of seconds to wake up and realize her surroundings, and that's when she saw Genie at the completely other end of the table. Kaoru froze, immediately feeling her face heat up when she realized that Genie saw her repulsively wake up like a caveman. However, her worries flushed away from herself once she noticed how Genie looked unsettled and depressed. "G-Genie..." She could only stare at her, feeling a swarm of sad and guilty emotions flow through her. Kaoru softly looked at Genie before her eyes stopped on a gauze around her wrist and Kaoru instantly thought of something unsettling... Something that also happened to Kaoru two years ago. Kaoru didn't say what she thought the gauze was for as she just sat up straight and tried her best to smile, though in reality she was feeling sick just thinking of what Genie could've possibly put herself through. Kaoru hoped her hair didn't dimly light up at her nervousness, but Kaoru was too focused on Genie to see what her hair was doing. "H-hey. Um, I would say that it's a n-nice morning b-but in here I don't t-think it ever is..." Kaoru nervously laughed, instantly regretting how stupid she just sounded.
 
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