The Periodic Experiment

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Nikolai had slipped through the window and was now making his way across the grounds, limping slightly less than he had when he first stumbled out of bed. There was a slight chill in the mid-autumn air but Nikolai didn't mind; the cool air felt amazing. The fresh air was clean and sweet and already Nikolai could feel his body loosening as some of the stiffness from his test started to wear off. He still wasn't moving fast, but he did make a point to quicken his pace as he passed by the multiple windows that lined the outside of the complex. Avoiding all of the outside cameras, Nikolai followed the narrow leaf littered path into the woods and soon the large modern looking laboratory disappeared from view.

The woods were dark under the moonless sky and Nikolai's eyes took several minutes before they had adjusted enough for him to really make out the details of the forest. After a few more minutes, Nikolai reached his destination: the huge, ancient willow tree. The large branches sagged with the weight of moss and leaves, creating an impenetrable canopy. Nikolai couldn't help the relaxed smile that spread across his face as he drew nearer, stepping off the path and into the denser plant growth. He approached the tree slowly, the awe he felt every time he visited here overwhelming him once again. There was something almost magical about this place, as if there was an arcane connection flowing from one living thing to the other here. It was a sacred feeling and Nikolai often felt as if he was intruding, as if he was treading on hallowed ground. These feelings of insignificance passed quickly, though, and Nikolai soon found himself laying under the woven shelter the branches provided. He couldn't see the stars from under here, but he really didn't mind. The movement of the leaves as the wind fluttered through them was soothing enough and it didn't take long before Nikolai was lost in his thoughts. He let his mind wander as he laid there and his mind was chaotic. It bounced from one idea to the next, creating images that played in what seemed to be a never ending sideshow of dreams and pictures and faces.

Nikolai had no idea how long he'd laid there but it had to have been at least several hours. The night sky was beginning to lighten when Nikolai finally sat up again, realizing he'd stayed out all night. A slight pang of worry disrupted his calm. Had the guards noticed he hadn't been in his room all night? Would he return to find an army waiting for him, tasers and tranquilizers in hand? Nikolai shook his head at his thoughts, scoffing. Did he really care? No, not really. With a sad sigh, he pushed himself up carefully, feeling the effects that staying awake all night had taken on his already weakened physical state. It only took half the time to walk back up to the unlocked window and as he crawled back inside the black sky was just turning a light inky blue. Sneaking as quietly as possible, Nikolai made it down the hall and back to his room without running into anyone.

He tried to lay down and sleep for a few hours but he soon gave up that endeavor; his mind was still too busy to allow him to rest. Instead, he made his way into the small, simple bathroom that attached to his bedroom. He hadn't showered since the day prior and his test had made him filthy- it was definitely time to get clean again. After a long, scolding hot shower, Nikolai dressed simply and headed out into the hallway once more. The smell of food reminded his body just how hungry he was and Nikolai walked the short path to the cafeteria. It was now almost noon and Nikolai sighed, realizing that he'd missed breakfast. He'd have rather had breakfast, but lunch would have to do. He didn't bother to scan the room for other people as he made a straight course for the kitchen. He grabbed his typical meal; two pieces of fruit, today's choice being pears, a small sandwich, and a large glass of ice water. Once he had his food in hand, Nikolai stepped back into the cafeteria's open area and looked around. He spotted Genie sitting alone at the end of one of the long tables, looking positively depressed and significantly less healthy than she had yesterday. Nikolai thought about joining her but decided that she probably wouldn't appreciate someone intruding on what looked like an otherwise solemn breakfast. She looked like she wanted to be left alone, so Nikolai would respect that.

Instead of sitting across from Genie, Nikolai sat several seats down, closer to where Kaoru was sitting, head resting on her arms. She looked as if she'd just woken up and Nikolai figured she didn't really want to talk, either. Besides, it wasn't like everyone here were best friends. The only reason a conversation had gotten started yesterday was because Nikolai had been oblivious to Steven's incident and had needed to clarify. As soon as Nikolai's thoughts turned to Steven, he saw the other man walk into the cafeteria. "Guess they finally let him out of isolation," Nikolai thought, taking a bite of his pare as he watched Steven approach the table everyone was sitting at. He listened as the other man spoke, absorbing his words and analyzing them as he did. Nikolai wasn't expecting his name to be mentioned in Steven's apology but it was....well, his element had been, but that served the same purpose as a name. It took a moment for Nikolai to realize he was apologizing for almost crushing him with a couch. Nikolai didn't really care for Steven's happy and go-lucky demeanor but he figured he could accept the apology anyway. At least he was trying to set things straight and atone for his mistakes. "Don't worry about it," Nikolai murmured, taking another bite of his fruit as he thought over his words. "By the way, my name's Nikolai. You don't have to call me "Carbon"."

Nikolai found it slightly annoying that Steven couldn't remember their names. Yeah, Nikolai wasn't the best conversationalist and he didn't speak to the others often, but at least he knew everyone's names. It was a reasonable thing to know and remember, even if you didn't need to access the information frequently. Mentally shrugging away the tangent thought, Nikolai continued to eat his lunch as he listened to Steven's apology to Genie. Something stirred inside him then as he listened, a feeling that was in between happiness and disappointment. It seemed that Genie was going to get her old friend back and Nikolai knew he should be happy- elated, even- for the girl, knowing that friends were hard to find here. It was a rare day that any of them could say they had friends and when someone did find one, everyone else had a reason to celebrate. However, Nikolai didn't feel like celebrating. He felt decidedly unhappy as Steven finished, waiting expectantly for Genie's reaction. Nikolai wasn't sure what she would say, especially right now since she seemed so down, but he quietly hoped she'd deny his apology.
 
Kaoru's voice caught her, caused her head to lift from her still untouched breakfast and to check and pull down her sleeves to cover the evidence of her adventure last night. Kaoru sounded so nervous and it took a moment for Genie to understand why, she'd probably been warned about being friends with her, or the fear of her had finally set in. Genie wanted to be hard as a rock then, to turn from Kaoru and act as flippant as possible but the other girls face was red and puffy, she didn't look like she'd been to bed either as she was still in the same clothes as yesterday and she looked drained. Carefully putting her orange down, half peeled and rather messily so far, she gripped the vitamin drink and stood, carefully pushing it down the table. She knew she'd promised the nurse she'd drink it but Kaoru looked like she needed it more. "I think you need it more than me."

As she finished handing over the drink, Nikolai sat down several seats away from her and it just hammered home the words the scientists. Did she really think he'd have the time for her? He'd approached her for information, he'd stayed out of awkwardness and he'd helped himself, not her. He wasn't going to want to be her friend, let alone bale her out of her own problems time and time again. Quickly retreating from that end of the table she checked the sleeves were covering her bandages and sat herself back down, trying not to let the hurt register. They had been right, Kaoru was scared, Nikolai was indifferent, she was a fool to think it would be any other way.

Her thoughts turned towards the melancholy again, though soon Steven walked in carrying his drip pole over his shoulder and looking simultaneously energized and drained. What had they done to him this time? He stopped at the table though and began his apology, he shouldn't have needed to, well except to Nik for nearly crushing him. He was trying to protect them, which someone had to do around here, to let them know they were human not weapons or tools to be used but people, some of them still kids in the eyes of society. Of course perhaps he should have thought better about it and had the argument in private, or perhaps left out the couch throwing all together but she knew what he was like when he was mad, he didn't think he just reacted. When they were twelve he'd thrown a table, it ended fairly similarly, he being subdued and the rest returned to their rooms.

Then he turned to her and she flinched a little at the intensity of his stare, was she about to get the telling off she'd avoided for so many years, she was half tempted to disappear but the throb in her wrist reminded her just how stupid that would be. She couldn't dematerialise with a wound, she wasn't sure why, nor were the scientists, but when she came back the wound was worse, she'd been lucky that she wasn't very strong that the wound hadn't gone too deep but if she tried to disappear now it could have caused a lot more problems.

So she stayed and she listened, growing ever more uncomfortable by the second, her hands now under the table, hiding the bandage though she was sure none could see it through the sweater. "T-that little accident...I nearly killed you. How can you not hold that against me?" She briefly glanced up to Steven and it was like they were kids again, she wanted him to comfort her and reassure her, tell her she wasn't a monster and this place wasn't as bad as it looked. She knew he couldn't this time though, they'd all seen the other side of the people here, the bad...and the good. If that nurse was found out she'd lose her job and people here didn't just lose their jobs she was sure. They knew too much, she had a family, a daughter about Genie's age. She was risking everything for Genie because she knew if they knew she was hurt, they'd hurt her more.

Steven looked so genuine and so concerned as well but she honestly didn't know what to say to his confession, no matter how heart felt it was. Or perhaps it was because it was heartfelt, she still ached and was still so tired from the night prior that she didn't want to say anything that wasn't equally as profound but she couldn't feel her heart right then. Instead she offered a weary but reassuring smile. "You are rubbish with names, you know that right? You can't hold a drip like that either, or it won't work properly, I won't ask why you have it but put it back down. Sometimes you seem so grown up but honestly you are still such a little kid." Kaoru couldn't be her friend, Nikolai just didn't care about her and while she was sure the scientists would try and stop them like they did last time, at least she could have Steven for a little while, right?
 
Thescientists observed in silence, as subject one just sat there in the center of the room staring at the men in orange. At first they two were unsure of what to do having heard that she was to kill them, but that hesitation wained as they grew closer and saw what the scientists couldn't. The crimson that splotched her face was broken by streams of tears that seamed to try there best to wash away the blood from her face. The men solwly but surely realized that she wasn't a threat at least not anymore and as they grew closer still, subject one didn't move. She spoke not a word nore did she do anything to acknowledge them in any way other then watch them silently. Finaly one of them grew enough courage to approach her. He stepped right up to her and jabbed her with the plank of wood in his hand, watching as she merely tumbled over herself onto the floor. It didn't take him long to climb ontop of her holding the wood against her throat in an attempt to strangle her.

Then it happenned. In an instant her hand reached up and grabbed him face. It seemed to explode into a ashen blood mess as his face simply dissapeared leaving behind a bloody mess. Then something the scientists hadn't expected happenned. one of the younger scientists in the observation booth spoke up. "Sir. She's emmiting high levels of radiation. I, i think she's losing control of her powers." Sure enouggh as the room began to fill with radiation it didn't take long for it to effect her attackers. One by one they started to show signs of exposure. Blistering skinn bleeding from the nose and eye's until one by one they all died. The scientists were happy with the results but when they tried to contact subject one and she didn't respond they grew worried.

"Sir! Radiation level's are still rising and the subject is non responsive! What do we do!" The older man let mumbled something over his breath before grabbing the intercom and shouting into it

"Subject one! Get Up Now!"

That got her attention, starteling her to a slightly higher level of alertness which didn't help. The sheer amount of radiation she was now emitting was cuasing the air around her to crackle and almost boil and as it did so the heat began to effect her. Just like before her chest tightened her breathing grew labored and before long she was crying out in pain. That wasn't the end of it, though. The sheer level of radiation she was emitting eventually began to even efect her as he skin began to blister and burn leaving patches of charred skin here and there. By then her cry's had turned into gut wrenching screams as she completely lost control of her powers, and as the radiation level's continued to rise the room became filled with a loud larm as the light's flipped over to a flashing orange light to signify that the room was entering quarentine.

"Sir we are approaching critical level's of radiation, if this goes on much long the test chamber will not be able to contain it. The facility will become compromized!" There was a brief silence before the one in charge finally spoke up.

"Flood the room with clorene gas."

"But sir that will kill her!"

"Do it now, or I will!"
 
Nine...
Eleven...
Ten...

Syven mentally remembered those numbers, it seems like that everyone was like her, their memories were even later that her's . It wasn't normal, it wasn't, people weren't suppose to work like that.

The truth is getting closer, it's getting obvious that their memories from the times when they didn't have powers are somehow lost. The theory is established, now all she needs is proof. If she has became sure of this theory, then everything else would afloat naturally. What if she did get her memories back, then what would she do? There was no telling, since she probably won't get them back, nor will thinking about it right now be any good. She watched the others silently, it seems like that they were expecting her to tell them more. No. I can't. It'll be too dangerous for you guys... Syven felt like a hypocrite for thinking like that, she was doubting her colleagues. They were much stronger than her, and more experienced, why would a little kid like her try to change all this? Go hack the computers? No, they were too far away for her powers too reach without any permanent brain damage, she was too helpless to do anything right now.

She doesn't know what to do now, tell them? Or not? She can already see Kaoru's hair slightly growing, why did she ask them again...It was just putting herself in a bad situation. This is when a few scientists stepped into the room, they came up to Nikolai and told him to go and finish his test. Syven was relived, but it made her quiet bad to be relived when Nikolai could get thrown into something that's potentially, no, something that's absolutely dangerous. She tried to ignore the guilty feeling, and focused on her earliest memory.

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"Checkmate." A small child with dark azure hair whispered under her breath, as she slowly moves a chess piece across the board.

The person on the other side of the table was an elderly man, with a balding head that was barely covered by strands of white hair. "Well well, aren't you quiet the child?" The man said, impressed with the child. "What is your name again? Haha, aging does make people forgetful, I might have to retire soon." The man continued, cheerfully.

"Syven...That's my name, I don't remember having it though." Dark blue strands of hair covered the child's eyes as she whispered quietly.

She only remembers waking up in a really bright room, she was scared, and then all the light and computers went out. Then people who looked like that they were researchers came in, they said something about her "powers" and kicked her away from any electronic. For some reason she was bored, most children could be entertained with a book or building blocks, it seemed like that she was born to watch those shiny screens. She didn't know why, but she wanted an electronic, she wanted a computer, for some reason it felt hard to live with out them. It was like a second nature of her's.

Then the old man showed up, with a checkered board under his arm. He told her that he use to be a national champion at chess, and asked her if she wanted to play. Syven agreed, there was nothing better to do. The moves came naturally, no one ever taught her how to play, but somehow she knows how everything works. The black and white pieces glided across the board in silence, only once or twice a hour a soft "Checkmate" can be heard. She won. Syven won, she won a lot. But sometimes she also lost. It was like that her brain was making the moves for her, for some reason she just knows what she's suppose to do to set up a perfect victory. It was in her blood, or maybe it was in her brain all along.

"It's alright, it's something normal, yeh hear?" The man was still cheerful, he was always cheerful. "And by the way, take this, but don't tell anyone." He reached into his bag and pulled out a piece of shiny metal. It was a portable tablet, coated with a silvery color.

For almost a year, she played the game with many many different people, from some of the older test subjects to the researchers, sometimes even the guards. She won, she kept on winning. No one ever beaten her, exept that one old man who started it all. One day he was gone, he just disappeared. Syven wondered if he retired or not, or maybe something happened to him. Syven didn't care, he wasn't anyone she's grown fond of, she never really grew fond of anyone.

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I never hated anyone...
I never loved anyone...
I never cherished anyone...
I never protected anyone...

Still sitting at the table, holding her silver tablet, Syven was lost in thought. She'd never cared deeply for anyone, but it seemed so hard to develop any deep emotions for anyone in a place like this. Perhaps no one would care for anyone in a place like this. She can feel that something is missing, something that she's felt before, but lost now. It wasn't a memory, it was more like something that was burnt into one's mind at a young age. A very young age. Syven grew more and more sure that they had all lost their memories from the past, the odd, empty feeling inside made her believe more and more in the fact that something was once there.

She jolted back to reality when Genie was taken away, and it seems that Kaoru was dozing on the table. Rubbing her temples, Syven made fun of herself mentally for being lost in thought for so long, it was silly how missing memories can urge your emotions. Syven stopped thinking about her feelings, and that odd felling deep inside. She wanted her memories back for the truth, not some emotional monologue that no one wants to hear. Picking up her tablet and soda bottle, she left the cafeteria and headed off to her room.

She never did much in her room, all she did was stay in one chair for dozens of hours, and stare at the flashing screens. Not the most healthy life style, but being healthy isn't anyone's top priority around the place.

...Emotions can be pushed back until the truth surfaces.

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The next day came as usual, nothing spectacular, nothing horrible. Everyone was in the cafeteria, Syven came too, it was usual how frequently she is leaving her room now, but it might be a good thing. Then Steven came in. Syven silently moved to the side of the table, no one will ever mention her anyways. She turned her attention to the silver tinted tablet in her hands again, she wasn't paying much attention to Steven's little speech, but she can tell that she wasn't mentioned. Ah, she wasn't like the others, she was normal and stable, she needed no attention, because she'll never go haywire and kill everyone. No need to notice her, what could she do anyways? Besides, her tests never get that deadly. The thought didn't really bother her, but she looked up from her tablet at Steven anyways. Haha, no one would notice me. Syven thought, cracking a smile.
 
Kaoru was taken aback when Genie pushed her cup towards her. Kaoru could remember the smell of the orange vitamin drink, and of course Kaoru wanted to decline it as Genie definitely needed it more than her, but then Nikolai walked in and broke her thoughts. Nikolai sat near her and said nothing but Kaoru couldn't just stop thinking about how nice Genie just was. Kaoru subconsciously stared at the cup with wide eyes, not expecting such a kind reaction despite Kaoru's terrible conversation skills. Even though Genie was obviously emotionally worse than her right now, she still was being a better person than her, like everyone always was. Kaoru never knew if should could meet the expectations of anyone else in this room, actually she knew she couldn't. Kaoru had no clue towards what Genie or Nikolai may of thought of her. Her mind brought up the fact that no one else probably cared and that she shouldn't get too close, but with such interesting people she didn't know if her curiosity would be able to handle not learning all about them. The couldn't deny that she wanted to be close friends with everyone, but at the same time she also could only think of problems and worries.

Kaoru was snapped out of her thoughts about whether she should try to get close to the others or not when Steven spoke up. Kaoru slightly jumped, not even knowing that Steven was in the room. When Steven starting unnecessarily apologizing, Kaoru had instant respect for Steven. Sure, he may be a little bit uncontrollable but she could definitely tell that he had a good heart. However, despite Kaoru's wish to be good friends with him, she didn't know if she would ever have the courage to try to have a friendly conversation with him. She hoped that she didn't look distant if she wasn't too involved with anyone else, as her lack of braveness probably wouldn't let her, despite what she actually wanted to do.

Kaoru nodded and partially smiled in understanding after Nikolai and Genie reassured Steven, with Genie starting to talk more than the other people currently in the cafeteria. Kaoru was disappointed in herself when Genie casually started talking with Steven. Would I ever be able to casually talk to the others like that? ....Would anyone else ever talk to me like that...? Yet again, Kaoru was unknowingly making things seem bigger than they actually were.
 
Steven was looking at Carbon, Nikolai? Alright then, Nikolai it is. He gave Nikolai a smile, he wasn't really sure what else to do. He was too far away to shake his hand, or even offer to. Plus Steven wasn't entirely sure if Nikolai would take it. Steven had a bad habit of shaking peoples hands just a little too aggressively. Nikolai seemed cool, Steven wasn't sure if Nik liked him, but for sure he liked Nikolai. He was cool. Like, the cool kid you want to be in school. So Steven decided not to try, but instead kill him with kindness. That way if he didn't like Steven, well then he'd just be so kind to him Nikolai would have no choice but to be his friend, and if Nik did like Steven, well he couldn't possibly do harm by being nice to someone could he?

Steven turned to Genie. "T-that little accident...I nearly killed you. How can you not hold that against me?" She seemed so nervous, like he was about to hit her, and Steven could barely help himself from laughing. Steven was smiling and trying to give her the most sincere look he could. How does one look sincere? He thought momentarily distracted. It simple Genie, because it was that, an accident. You didn't mean to almost kill me. Also you didn't kill me, you almost did but you didn't. Here I stand fit as a fiddle... mostly He finished with a little nod to his IV pole. "You are rubbish with names, you know that right? You can't hold a drip like that either, or it won't work properly, I won't ask why you have it but put it back down. Sometimes you seem so grown up but honestly you are still such a little kid." Steven laughed out loud at this one, she was nagging him again! Oh yes good god in heaven, she was teasing him again. He had really missed her. Steven put on a little mischievous smile and put down his IV pole. Number one, miss genie, he began quite emphatically. I've never had an IV bag before and I honestly have no idea how they work so that's not my fault. Though it would would seem he stopped a second looking at his bag it's just gravity. Second, the wheel on this thing sucks, that's why I was carrying it, it wouldn't roll. Aaaannnndddd finally miss, Steven leaned in just ever so slightly for the last part. While I know I'm horrible with names, I would love to see any child throw a sofa. I think I'm at least a young adult thank you very much. He was almost laughing out loud by the end. He looked over his shoulder at the kitchen, they'd be closing up any second now, and he really really realllly wanted to have some real food. He looked back to the table to tell whomever was still listening. If you'll excuse me for a second, the kitchen's about to close and I would really like some food since I haven't eaten in 3 days. He didnt really wait for a response cause really. Food.

He went through the line as fast as he could. He grabbed a Gatorade, an apple, bag of chips and had a sandwich made for him that was, quite impressive by his standards. HE made his way back to the group and sat right across from Genie, prepared to talk about whatever came up for however long everyone wanted to. Especially careful to keep an ear our for everyone's name. He knew Syven, whom he previously thought was Sarah was lithium. But that was the only name he'd gotten on his own. He still had zero clue what Neon's name was, but was vaguely sure it began with a C. He knew they wouldn't have much time left together before they were all ushered off to whatever it was they had to do next. Mostly because lunch would be over within 10 minutes. But that just meant he'd have to wait until dinner to see everyone again, and while he wasn't overly fond of waiting, he knew they'd all run into each other again.
 
It had been a good couple of months for all the experiments. The tests had been easier, and less frequent, they had been given more time for meals and free time in general. Even their punishments for acting out were lessened. A few times members had been caught out together way past curfew with each other and they had been merely scolded and sent back to their rooms. All in all things were definitely improving and everyone's spirits were up. They'd all started to get closer. Sitting together at nearly every meal, being there for each other and comforting each other on bad days. Steven felt closer to Genie than he ever had. He'd also taking a liking a to Kaoru and Nik, though he wasn't sure exactly how Nikolai felt about him still. Their support for each other made everyone less tense, powers were easier to control, easier to manage and everyone skill level and control of their powers had improved dramatically, Steven was twice as strong as he had been before his time in isolation those few months ago. Syven had even come up with little communicators so that they could talk to each other at night, they were basic, but effective and pretty easy to hide so long as they didn't give the doctors a reason to strip search their room. It was all so good, they should have know it wouldn't last. Well some of them did, but there was nothing they could do but enjoy their time in the sun.

It was the middle of fall by the time their clock was up. October the 16th if you care. The subjects were all sitting together, even Pluto, and they were all in a fantastic mood and enjoying each other company. They had all been tailed constantly since Steven's outburst, but after the first week, none of the guards actually did anything other than scowl menacingly. The 6 guards were all standing at what the USMC would call parade rest and looking unusually menacing. Even Steven, who was incredibly unobservant, noticed it and didn't like. All he could do though was ignore it until they acted, though he had made sure to sit on the opposite side of the table from them so that he could keep an eye on them the whole lunch.

It was about halfway into lunch when Karou had said something absolutely hilarious that they were all laughing at. But their laughter was cut short. The scientist had walked in with what a appeared to be a Squad of 19 men, plus the original 6, and 2 doctors. He cleared his through, cutting the laughter off like a guillotine. "As I'm sure you've all noticed, you've been given an extraordinary amount of freedom for the past 2 months. I'd like to claim that it was for scientific purposes, that we were seeing how you reacted under 'positive' circumstances."
the doctor had said it like he was spitting poison from his mouth. "But it wasn't. Quite unfortunately I realized how powerless we were to stop you in the event that you really wanted to do something. So we took a step back, and gave you no reason to revolt. Though I admit, you all organized much quicker than anticipated. Nothing that cant be solved though." The Scientist pulled a vial from his lab coat. It contained a clear liquid that sloshed around when he shook it lightly. "This is a sedative that will work on every single one of you. Well, its kind of a sedative. Think of it more of and amphetamine."

Steven knew he was closing in on the reason he had started this little show, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what it was. It couldn't be good though and Steven was worried. He didn't read, knew very little about the outside world, and while he knew a fair amount of drug and medicine related vocabulary, 'amphetamine' wasn't one of them. His eyes flicked form the scientist to Genie and his hand followed, grabbing Genie's and holding it tight. he regretted immediately sitting on the opposite side of the table form her. There was no way he could possibly get up and onto her side of the table without provoking an onslaught from the guards.

The Scientist continues"This will work on all of you, and luckily for all of you, I've had it weaponized." His words were like a dagger and as he said it, his guards all pulled out plastic assault rifles and aimed them at the experiments. They did it so perfectly and uniformed that they must have been on a synchronized timer.

"These assault rifles fire small vials of this drug. The muzzle velocity is above average and the tips of the needles are reinforced carbon-polymer. The guns themselves are made from a very expensive, very hard and carbon-less plastic. Their core is a reinforced tempered titanium that can't be bent unless its super-heated first. They have no chips, computers bells or whistles that can be altered electronically. Each round is shot by a quarter round of gun-power instead of compressed air like most tranquilizer darts. And each guard is equipped with auto-darkening goggles." he turned to his guards and they all simultaneously flicked down goggles. They had to have practiced this shit. They were too synchronized. The Scientist made sure to look at each and every one of them when it seemed important, he made a point of mentioning something to counter each person that he addressed. "How about about a little demonstration?"

Genie was surprised and terrified when it was her they'd grabbed by the back of the head and dragged from the bench, yanking her hand from Steven's. She moved as quickly as she could to alleviate the pressure she felt on her scalp, tears springing to her eyes and her arms moving to the hands of the guards merciless grip. Oddly perhaps, she didn't scream or cry out, it might have been the sudden shock to her system, it had all been so quick, so utterly unprovoked. Before she'd fully regained her footing she felt the grip shift as her head was forced with a resounding clang into the metal surface of one of the other mess hall tables. Her head swam and her vision blurred, tears springing to her eyes and a pain in her lip hinting she may well have bitten it and caused it to bleed. The guard left little time for her to regain herself, twisting one of her arms viciously up behind her back until her hand was close to her face at an awkward and painful angle. The other was pinned down on the table in front of her and the combined weight and awkwardness of her position made it hard for her to move.

When a mixture of tears and stars had cleared from her eyes she glanced over to those she had started to call her friends. They all loked back at her and Steven spoke up, quietly and calmly, but in a voice that sounded sure as the setting sun. You'll be okay Genie. I promise. This was a fight they could not win and she hoped, prayed they'd be sensible for now. Attempting to move a shoulder she was slammed roughly back into the table, a quiet 'oof' forced from her chest, she had to try though, even if it hurt. She ignored the arm behind her back and tried to move the other, the guard hissed something that was garbled by his mask but she couldn't make out what it was. For a moment the pressure from her arm was gone but not long enough for her to move, her head still span and she was having trouble willing herself to move. Attempting to push herself up got her pushed back against the table.

She was scared, terrified actually and large wisps were flitting from her like breath on a frosty day, "P-please, let me go." She whispered, half disorientated. Her words were ignored however and she heard and felt the movement behind her, one phrase was spoken then by the scientist and it shot an icy dagger into her heart, causing further damage as she was unable to recall why. "Give her the drug." It was then her body started to fluctuate as often it did in times of great stress. The guard held fast to her and it didn't take him a moment to plunge the needle into the back of her neck.

One sharp stab and her eyes widened, a scream that one might call 'blood curdling' leaped from her throat and all hell broke lose. The windows cracked all in a row across the kitchen, the guard holding her was surprised enough to loosen his grip and he was hit with an invisible force so hard it knocked him off his feet and five feet threw the air until he landed on his arse gasping for breath. She sat herself up, a cut on her head oozed blood, tainting her blonde hair pink, red marks soon to be bruises on her cheeks and eye socket from where her head had been forced down. Genie's head hurt so very much but she could see them, those awful men standing over, no, threatening her friends and she just wanted them to stop. Without any focused thought she reached out, grabbing the invisible current of air and tugging it hard, one by one like over dressed synchronized swimmers the guards were forced to lower their weapons and scramble for their masks, instinctively Genie had managed to render the gases in their air tanks null and void.

The scientist clapped heartily, catching Genie's attention full frontal, he spoke but she couldn't make out the words. She was finding it hard to stand by this point but that didn't stop her from raising both arms, the guards were recovering, masks off and dusting off their pants they awaited their employer's instruction. "Sir, we should put her down."
"Wait a minute." Came the man's reply, the pre-broken glass shards rattled in the WINDOW, Genie had stopped caring about the air inside the building, the glass splintered and cracked and shards twisted into the air.
"Sir!" They sounded scared, they should be, they'd hurt her friends, they kept hurting her friends and that wasn't okay.
"Wait." The shards hung there a moment, suspended and then as quickly as it had begun Genie staggered, caught by the scientist himself who unlike his men didn't seem scared, he seemed pleased. Handing Genie off to one of the others he turned to address those in the room.

Steven could only watch in horror as he saw Genie freak out, then collapse and begin freaking out. She was shaking slightly, looked like she was mildly hallucinating and otherwise unresponsive. Moving ambling like a mindless zombie wherever the guards pushed her. She was flat out tripping on a methamphetamine-sedative of some kind. They were all frozen with...something. Fear, anticipation, shock. It may have been different for them all, it may have been the same. Steven wanted to save her. Knock them all away and save her. But he couldn't. He knew it'd be useless. He'd end up in isolation and then they'd all be stuck in even more of a pickle. He stood there. looking at her as she vegged out, starting to drool even.

The Scientist cleaned his throat again to draw a bit of attention to himself. "Now. You've all been given more freedom than I'd have liked in the past weeks. It ends. NOW. " He screamed the final word and the air was positively electric with tension. "So congratulations. You are all to return to your regular schedules. But they'll be more stringent. You are all no longer allowed to dine together and will never see each other again. Your days will be regimented again even more-so than before and you will comply. Or you will be met with merciless reaction. You WILL be broken."

6 guards advanced and gingerly separated them. Placing them all in cuffs and keeping them several feet from each other they were all escorted back to their rooms and locked there for the night.

Steven had no idea if any of the others tried to resist on their way back to their rooms. He sure hoped not cause the last thing they needed was to worry about multiple drugged up super powered friends. He was shoved gruffly into his room and his heavy steel door was locked behind him. He looked around his room. Other than the communicator in his pocket, there was nothing to his advantage here. His room was relatively simple. His bed was in the corner. He had a a bench press and a lot, and I mean A LOT of weights for it. there was a simple work desk, a dresser and a small bookshelf that had his slowly growing comic book collection on it. Something he'd gotten into after his incarceration. He grabbed a comic at random (Captain America and the Hulk Team Up) and got onto his bed. Trying to act as rattled and as uncomfortable as possible, while in reality he was just using the comic to hide his communicator. He started typing, it was a group message to everyone.

What do we do? How do we save her?

Send.
 
The last few months had passed rather quickly and Nikolai had spent the days in relative peace. If he wasn't spending time with Genie, then he was reading or sketching out new drawings to share with the other test subjects. This strange calm had taken over the entire facility and it seemed like things were actually looking up for once; no one had been brutalized since Steven's incident and Pluto had even been returned to the group. Even if this peace was welcome, Nikolai felt a growing sense of dread building as the weeks drew on. Tension was building, too, and throughout the last week the air had held an uncomfortable weight whenever the guards or scientists were around. "But," Nikolai tried to convince himself, "Maybe that's just my own cynicism coming to light." True, he'd never been much of an optimist, but Nikolai wanted to feel happy about the lax scheduling and testing. Maybe they were finally going to be treated like human beings and not like animals or weapons.

His hopefulness was quick to disappear, though, and it seemed like the cynical voice in his head would always be right in the end. Lunch had been proceeding as was the new normal- the group was sharing the long table in their typical seats, laughing about something silly Karou had said- when an entire mob of guards suited up like soldiers came marching through the metal double doors, flanked by the head Doctor and several scientists. Nikolai felt his stomach drop and immediately he knew that something horrible was about to happen to them. The peace would be no longer, of that much he was absolutely sure. The head honcho stepped forward and began this elaborate and seething speech, his eyes glaring at all of the people gathered at the table. He went on about how they'd let them think things were getting better to test them- see if they would bond. "Those bastards," Nikolai wanted to scream. What did the expect to happen? Human beings were social animals. They didn't like to be alone and of course, even genetically altered ones, would bond to those around them if given the chance. Obviously, the subjects had underestimated the depths of their captors' cruelty.

Instead of causing an unnecessary scene, Nikolai gripped his fork tighter, knuckles white and jaw clinching. "They're not going to get away with this- not this time." He thought, having a seriously hard time controlling himself for once. When Nikolai heard the word "amphetamine" he tensed further his entire body becoming rigid; the other subjects didn't read near as much as he did and he knew of no one else who read medical journals for fun like he did when he was bored. No one else at this table could understand the effects that 'weapon' would have on them all. And no one, not even Nikolai or the scientists, could predict the various possible volatile effects this drug could have on chemically altered persons like the experiments. All of this had happened suddenly and lasted only a few minutes before the scientist was practically over flowing with a twisted sort of enthusiasm. "How about a little demonstration?" he called, still watching with that same evil glint in his cold eyes. Before anyone had a chance to react or object, one of the armored men had taken a hold of Genie's hair and had wrenched her head back, ramming in into the table with such force the metal shuttered.

Nikolai, who was placed to her left as usual, sat utterly paralyzed with fear- he couldn't do anything and he knew it. He was completely and undeniably useless. The suits were carbon-free and all of the guard's skin was covered. Had there been any possible way for Nikolai to get his hands on an inch of flesh, that guard would be seriously regretting his decision to lay a finger on Genie. However, this was not the case and there would be no such heroics. Instead of springing up and getting himself tapped and drugged as well, Nikolai watched in horror as they attacked Genie and injected that horrible substance into her body. She was panicking for real now, and Nikolai could barely stand to watch. The fork that had been solid metal in his hand had now degenerated into a pile of ashy-sticky substance under his carbon destroying grasp. Whips of pure oxygen were pouring off the girl now and she was screaming and thrashing about in the guards' arms. Oh, the screaming. Nikolai thought he was going to explode any second- how could they be doing this? Why? They'd done absolutely nothing to deserve this sudden treatment and Nikolai's blood was boiling by the time they had finally managed to get some control over the now practically comatose Genie. Her panicked state had left all the windows in the cafeteria destroyed and everyone at the table was breathing shallower as the oxygen in the room had been thinned- it felt as if they all had asthma or they had climbed to the top of Everest. As they removed Genie from the room, the pressure returned to normal and Nikolai could attempt at calming his emotions.

He refused to let them see him riled up. No way was he going to give these assholes that satisfaction- they'd never know that their treatment of Genie had sparked an anger and resentment inside him that could not be stopped from spreading. They'd never know until it was too late for them to run; they'd pissed off the wrong experiment. Nikolai didn't resist as he was hand cuffed and lead away. He didn't care that he was tossed into his room and that the door was bolted from the outside with a large clunk. The only thing that mattered to him at that moment was the communicator that was in his nightstand. He promptly shoved away the images of Genie and her torment as he rummaged through the drawer and scooped up the tiny electronic; he knew that getting distracted and letting his emotions rule his actions would do no one good. He slipped the small device up his sleeve before walking over to the door and turning out the light switch. He'd feign sleeping early so he could speak to the rest of the test subjects. Surely they were all thinking the same thing and Nikolai was not at all surprised when the small screen flashed an alert from an unopened message.

It was from Steven and the message spoke what was on every one of their minds: "What do we do? How do we rescue her?" Nikolai wasn't entirely sure of the correct answer, but his mind was hard at work in finding an appropriate solution. He didn't wait for the whole thing to surface before sending back his own simple message:

"I'm not sure yet- give me time; I'll figure it out. All bets are off. This has gotten too far."
 
He was livid. The second Steven sent his SMS he left his device in the comic and left them both on his pillow. He wasn't afraid to show how he felt and he was positively murderous. his face was red, which for his usually barely noticeable grey tint was weird. He piled every weight he could onto his barbell and started going to town. Rep after rep he didn't stop for nearly an hour (something else the scientists had found was that when Steven was angry, his strength increased greatly). He knew he was ignoring the beginning of the conversation about freedom and whatnot, but Steven knew his strengths. HE wasn't a thinker, he was a do-er. HE didn't have outstanding brainpower and the ability to create plans and was no strategist. He'd leave that to the others, but once the plans were made, he'd be ready to execute.

After the hour passed he finally got back to his 'comic book' and he responded appropriately. He believed in his friends could come up with an infinitely better plan than he could. When he got back he made sure to apologize for his absence. Sorry, I was... angry. Couldn't really control it. Steven gave up his actual blunt opinion to the others when he got back to his communicator. HE knew ti wouldn't account for much, but still, he gave it.

Steven got up every half hour to change comics so it didn't seem like he was reading the same 30 page comic for 5 hours. To anyone else it would have been common sense, but Steven would later be proud of it for recognizing the continuity of the situation. Steven was murderous. They had hurt Genie, no one hurt Genie. He would end them. Steven stayed furious all night, keeping his communicator by his side and responding promptly whenever that little green light started to flash. When Steven finally fell asleep his dreams were slightly more sadistic than usual, and it wasn't until he woke up, still angry that he realized. He was prepared to kill for her. For himself and his friends.
 
The days went by quietly as the commotions in the faculty started to calm down, life has retired to normal, or even better. For Syven everything was basically the same, shutting herself in her room and playing around with the tangle of wires and cables and screens. She never thought much about the others until the day she discovered that she somehow acquired the ability to creat wireless signals rather that just controlling them. With this she manage to come up with a small system she slapped together so everyone has communication. It was always an idea on her mind, but before it was way too dangerous to use the facility's signals and connections in risk of being discovered. Now she can just simply isolate the transmission signals of their system from the lab's. It was one of the few ways that she can contribute to the small group, it was only fair that she did it. Though the system was only capable of transferring text and lower quality images, since a larger amount of data would give her minor headaches. She had told this to the others, but used "functional issues" rather than telling them that her brain was the actual terminal for the system. Someone would start worrying about "is it safe" and she'll lose her likely solo chance to do anything useful.

The days kept on rolling by, one by one as usual. The morning was fine, it was one of those rare days that even she went to the cafeteria to have breakfast with the others. That particular day everyone was present. The air was light and fluffy as Syven sat as the edge of the table watching the others smile and talk. It was something enjoyable, perhaps one of the only things that felt alive to her.

The light and fluffy air seem to turn into frozen icicles when the group of men marched in. The air turned tense, it was getting a bit hard to breath, but that probably because Genie is taking the oxygen from the room due to her nervousness. She sat with her head down a little, her dark blue bangs cover her eyes as she listened to the speech. The guns. The freedom. The amphetamine. Everything.

I knew it, I knew one day that this is going to happen, they can't just let us...

It was obvious, the further the experiments bonded with each other, the more dangerous it is to the scientist's project, after running numbers of computer simulations, Syven realized the fact that if all of them are able to collaborate with each other at a certain level, they'll be unstoppable. The powers were balanced , and with a little freedom and practice, it wasn't a dream for them to conquer the facility, or even the human society itself.

Bangs and clashes can be heard from the front of the room, someone must been taken. Then came Genie's scream. Syven raised her head in a instant.

The amphetamine.

No, it wasn't simple amphetamine, something about it was off, something wasn't right, it didn't feel that simple. She quickly closed her eyes again and tried to rumble though the facility's files, searching for details on the drug. No use, it's too far away, the signals won't reach. The research files were alway kept far away from her, even now with a grown range, her powers still can't reach them. Why...how much more do I need to go... It was obvious that there is no way those files can be reached within her safe range. It might be possible if she can break the safety barrier, but suffering from brain damage at this point is going to do no good on the long run. A sharp piece of glass that fell when the suspended pieces started to fall scraped over her arm as it dropped. The pain carried her back to reality.
The other experiments were already being cuffed and lead out of the room. Syven quickly tossed on her jacket to cover the scratch, and was lead out with the others. She didn't dare to look back at Genie. But is was quiet crucial to gather information about that "amphetamine".

What am I thinking...Genie's safety is way more important. But why...

She once again mentally scowled herself about thinking more about the data that the wellness of her friend, if they were close enough to be called that. It couldn't be helped.

...why can't I ever care more about the people?

Sometimes she blames it on her powers, being able to take control of any electronic does whittle down your social skills bit by bit, especially if you over use them. Perhaps it's my problem.
After being tossed into her room, the first thing she checked is her computers, as expected the connection to both the outside Internet and the local network has been cut off, but other basic functions are still working. The communicator hanged around her neck informed her of the conversation between Steven and Nikolai. It didn't light up or beep or did anything noticeable from the outside, Syven didn't need any of that. The communicator she has can send signals to her to inform her of the information, so she didn't need to look at it to know what they're talking about.

I'll do what I can, but don't get too hasty on this. A pawn that wanders too far from the king is going to get eaten.

The same thing went for typing, she didn't need to type, just giving commands in her head was enough to function the communicator. She warned them again, in a similar fashion that she warned Pluto on the day when Steven went on his rampage. Remembering what happens to Pluto after she wondered if she should tell them more clearly to "don't do anything without plan", but she decided that there might be no way to stop them if they really wanted to do something. Her eyes were fixed at the screen as she opened up a detailed 3D model of a modern semi auto pistol, she had downloaded this at some point in her life, when she learned how to run simulations of different things within her mind.

But, I think at this point, killing is going to be an option.
 
The room she was in was what nightmares were made off. A small square brick cage with only one door made of solid heavy iron, the room itself was dank and dark, lit only by a single, seemingly dying, bulb which cast a pale gold glow which illuminated only a small circle of the steel table she was cuffed too. The heavy iron loop bolted to the table served to hold her cuffs and in turn the table was bolted to the floor. The chair she was forced to sit in was also steel and also bolted to the floor making any movement to alleviate pressure and aches in her body very difficult. She had been stripped before coming here, dressed in a medical gown that did up via three ties at the back. The cold steel biting her any time she shifted, her ankles too were cuffed through another iron loop bolted to the floor, forcing bare feet against the cold, slimy floor. The worst thing about the place though was the smell, a mixture of sweat, blood and bleach that turned her stomach and burned the delicate hairs in her nose. The only sound for hours at a time would be the slow, inconsistent drip from some corner of the room and the rattling and groaning of the pipes above her as they warmed up.

In her lucid moments Genie remembered to be terrified, she didn't remember why or what of but she knew she had every right to be scared. The horrible gown clung to her skin, damp and itchy and she knew despite the chill in the room she was sweating. Her hair, usually so bouncy and light was lank and stuck to her forehead, plastered against her neck and cheeks, matted occasionally with blood. Her eyes were heavy and blood shot and her lips cracked and dry, even her thumbs were not spared as she picked at the skin around them until they bled to try and remain lucid a little while longer. Though such efforts were ultimately in vain.

No matter how she tried a calm fog soon blanketed her mind, making it harder than before to think and forcing her focus to splinter like glass to a hundred directions at once. The noise of the pipes became unbearable and the steel chair may as well have been stone and covered in spikes with the ache that she felt. She'd pull on the cuffs which bit into her ankles and wrists, chaffing them raw as colors and patterns swirled before her eyes and monstrous creatures lunged at her from the darkness. At times she was so frustrated she wanted to cry but no sound would escape, when at last it seemed she had broken into sobs she threw her head back and laughed tugging harder on the chains to the same result.

She couldn't focus, couldn't concentrate, she knew there was something she was supposed to remember, faces occasionally flitted before her minds eye, images of people that she couldn't remember ever having existed. A man made of steel instead of flesh, he laughed and it sounded like thunder until she wanted to cover her ears. There was a little fairy girl who glowed brightly, she had wicked teeth and seemed to cackle. There was another girl, rake thin and dower looking who destroyed anything she touched, Genie couldn't see her eyes. Another girl was half person and half robot, she glowered with her red laser eye and Genie was sure she was to die. Then there was a man with the saddest eyes she had ever seen, whenever she thought to find out why he looked sad he was right before her, grinning a menacing grin. The images fluttered away like startled birds before she could focus on any one of them and she wondered where she had imagined such people from.

Then there were other faces, as terrifying as the first lot and they came with scorpion tails and jelly fish arms, their faces blurred by the pain they bought. She couldn't tell what they said to one another, they looked so odd she couldn't help but laugh and that often lead to more pain. Then off they went, whoever they were, if they too were even real and she felt that finally she could rest. A noise like an air raid siren would sound not thirty seconds after she got comfortable, forcing her to try and get her head to the table to cover her ears, sobbing in discomfort from the harsh noises. After a minute the sound faded and she was forced to stay awake.

Sometime later the jellyfish man and the scorpion would come in with someone who looked vaguely like a tarantula. They'd force her head back and she'd feel something thick and rubbery being forced down her throat, they'd hold something above her head and she'd feel fluid filling her belly. Then the tube was gone and so were the people, dehydration and starvation staved though she had no idea why. These people clearly must have hated her, maybe she'd killed their pony? She wasn't sure, she wasn't sure of much at all at the moment. So she began picking at the skin around her nails again, the sharp pain reminding her she was alive, probably.
 
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