[IC] 'How does it feel to be different?' [Dioxide x Caits]

[Dioxide]

Gershwin could only bear so much of what he said. All of it was reasonable, and she could only feel sympathetic for what he had suffered through, and sympathetic for what the others before them must have suffered through. Bringing themselves down to the depths of depression was infectious, but it was all the effort that Gershwin could muster to stay hopeful, to be able to fight for her and him, to be able to show their spirit, to show that they were unbeatable. If she exposed her own self-doubt to Cody, the one person she could count on, then all was lost. She battled hard through stifling another cry, to talk about something else:

‘I used to take piano lessons. We had a teacher come over to our home every weekend to practice on the grand piano my parents got me. I never got around to it – some techniques stuck, but my tight schedule prevented me from liking one thing enough to be passionate for it.

My parents… haha… they wanted the best for me, and well, because I didn’t know anything else but the best of everything, I just accepted it.

I’m not self-centered… anymore. I was brought down to Earth when I found out that I wasn’t so special after all, entering a prestigious school. Everyone’s so caught up with being so special and powerful, that it gets so tiring… So much so that I just sort of got caught in the wind of life, trying to be the best but not really being me…

Haha… and look at me now. Some freak of nature, special, unique, and locked up here. Funny how things turned out.’

---

Agent Dioxide acted routinely, doing a walk-by to the two cells where the Subjects were. As silent as he was in the quiet halls, he knew Cody could hear his footsteps, and that was fine if he was aware that they were being checked on. He did not mind, because he mostly was paying attention to the story Gershwin was sharing. He breathed out a soft sigh through his nose, and when he turned the corner she’d just finished. Let them return back to their conversation, not to ruin the mood. The one time when they could enjoy some semblance of peace, when the scientists did not feel like doing anything to them.

He had the grenade in his pocket, and walked to Logistics. He checked the time on his phone: 2355.

Just before entering through the door, he pressed on a button on the grenade, and it turned on. He felt nothing from it – no vibration or heat, though he knew that it worked. It was not lethal to him, but it worked effectively at distorting and shutting off cameras and electronic devices near him. Essentially, he walked throughout the floors of Logistics invisible. He banked on no one being around this time of night. The only people that would be in this building would be those staying overtime in their offices, not daring to waste any more of their precious time they could spend sleeping off their debt of fatigue.

He walked down the stairs as the elevators would fail to work on him. It would be a few flights down before he would finally enter a hallway where one person stood in the far end. He quickened his pace before he was a foot away from Agent Caits.

‘Alright, take me down. Remember the code?’

[MarshiestMallow]

Cody was silent, hugging himself, wanting to be anywhere else, wanting to be able to do something, to be able to be stronger, and to not simply comply anymore. He didn't think he had the strength or courage to try. Not anymore. He listened to Gerswhin, silently, more then aware that Agent Dioxide was there, listening as well.

'You are special, Gerswhin. You're bright, and something that bright...just has to be special, and I don't mean power wise, I mean...destined to be great'

If they could get out of there, Cody was sure Gershwin would go far. It would mean having to destroy this place, and any last residue of it, to enable them to be able to live freely. As Cody thought on that, he k new he would have to come to acceptance that he might kill.

He gave a soft sigh.

'My parents never treated me differently because I was blind. They encouraged me to try, and to always give everything my best. They told me I shouldn't believe I was limited because of my lack of sight. I've learned you can do anything, if you believe you can, and that you can find strength where you never thought it was.

You are special, Gershwin. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise'

---

Agent caits knew how to be patient. She leaned against the wall, contemplating things as she listened to her surroundings. Mostly, she was wondering why they needed to guard the information vault in such a secure building. What were the higher ups afraid of? Just what they were doing, no doubt-the agents breaking in.

She stared at the vault, wondering. Had others tried to break in before?

She glanced up as Dioxide approached, and nodded. Without a word, she approached the vault, and carefully inputted the code, waiting for something to happen.

[Dioxide]

‘Thank you. You are too.’

Though she smiled only to herself, Gershwin hoped that Cody knew that she was listening whole-heartedly.

‘So… any ideas as to how we got like this? Did you drink radioactive water by accident once? Any short-term flings with a girl you didn’t know was an alien?’

Gershwin attempted a joke to lighten the mood, even if said mood was grave.

‘Did you ever wonder if what we are was coincidental or accidental, or was it intentional… purposeful… like there’s a synchronic and diachronic meaning to what we are… or meant to be?’

---

Agent Dioxide watched as Agent Caits keyed in the seemingly innocuous code. 64-digits, sure, but it was still incredible simplistic for securing the most sensitive information in the world. Impressed by her incredible recall, he snuck a glance at her, appreciating and admiring the work that she – they’ve put together for this.

The code was entered, and the internal gears slowly grinded, the machination functioning until a sharp pop was heard. Agent Dioxide pulled out the door only to see a dark circle. The room inside was pitch black, and even with the staircase light, one could only see a few feet into the void. It felt like it belonged to a whole new universe – scary, and threatened to suck you in, never to let you go – but he had steadied his heart and proceeded.

He turned around, almost as if for the last time, and said:

‘Go back upstairs and keep an eye out for anyone. I’ll be back as soon as I can. If there is any trouble… you run and take care of the two. I’ll take the blame.’

Before she could reply, he went in, and disappeared into the darkness.

***

He turned off the EMP pulse grenade, and waited. As it turned out, there was no use waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He pulled out his phone and, being as cautious as he can be, used the light to shine his way around. He expected that the room would actually extend to a hallway deeper into the vault, because the immediate walls to his left and right were just that: walls.

He walked forward, shining his phone to the walls only to see the corners, indicating a wall in front of him. He had stopped just in front of a desk and there in front of him was a low desk with an old CRT monitor, and a printer. No obvious wires ran from or to it. No large hard-drive supposedly containing the files they needed. This was severely odd. There was no more to it: this small room is supposed to contain all the information of Anomalies in the world.

He pressed the power button on the monitor, and to his surprise it turned on – a green light shining back at him, with icons on the screen. With the mouse in his hand, he clicked on what turned out to be folders to see more folders. His eye went to the left, the leftmost being in alphabetic order, and the purpose for this escapade. Anomalies.

He clicked the folder, and it showed more folders – 30 of them, each containing the information of all the Anomalies. He clicked on the first one, the first Anomaly ever discovered and brought in: Catherin Winters. Unfortunately, there were hundreds of files, all of which were named in an indecipherable code only a select few were trained to understand – perhaps taught only within the inner circles entrusted by Big Boss. That didn’t matter – he hypothesized that the final file would be the ultimate and important of all, confirming what had happened to them on their final days in UNARM.

He clicked, and a window popped up, saying: “Processing”

***

A request came for the last file on Subject 1 to Big Boss’ computer.

Contrary to the rumours that float around in UNARM, there were no physical copies of any file whatsoever. Literally everything was printed once, memorized by Big Boss to the finest detail, and destroyed. Every file that is requested is therefore typed back out by Big Boss, a new file that is sent to the printer in the information vault. The printer uses a type of ink that lasts no more than four hours, meaning the existence of that information lives a finite life on paper, but forever in only one mind.

The façade that there is such a heavily-guarded vault is healthy to keep people in line and to maintain bureaucratic control. Only a handful of people know about the truth of the information vault not in Logistics, but in Big Boss’ perfect memory.

Thus, he knew perfectly well that he assigned no one to enter the vault this late. But, he still typed out the file to the requester – falsified, of course. Afterwards, he initiated a self-shutdown on the computer, preventing further access. Big Boss will ensure that this person never gets the truth.

***

Agent Dioxide watched as the file was printed out. As soon as the operation finished, the screen turned off. No matter how many times he pressed the power button, it refused to come back to life. There was no reason to believe that he was discovered – perhaps it was a feature that only one file could be printed in a certain period of time. But it never hurt to be cautious.

He folded the file into his pocket, and turned back his grenade on. He exited the vault door, and rapped on the staircase wall.

‘Is the coast clear?’

[MarshiestMallow]

Cody was silent for some time as he pondered this, he had so often wondered what made him, him. Was it a collection of random genomes? A sample of what evolution would bring? Just random chance-an environmental influence?

He didn't know. But he could speculate.

'As far as I am aware, no radioactivity. No aliens, but then, Aliens could be just as bright as humans, so how would I know the difference?'

Despite himself, he smiled.

'Well. I think...well, humans are always evolving, aren't they? We become stronger, to withstand weather, or other environmental and economic factors.

Perhaps this is just a further step in evolution. Perhaps its...natures way of preparing us for something yet to come. I don't think...I don't think we are freaks, but rather...well, the human brain only uses a small percentage of its abilities. Perhaps what we have is...extra. Like we have a few more switches flipped that allows us to do...extraordinary things'

---

It all seemed too easy to Agent Caits, strictly speaking, everything they did had to be on the computer systems, or if they were written on paper burned. Her own office should have been cleaned out, but Agent Caits never got around to it, always using the excuse that she didn't like to get rid of information until the next subject was gathered.

And then she conveniently left it. They were, mainly, her own notes about the subjects behaviours and what she had observed. They wouldn't really be that valuable, but it still gave her an insight.

So this seemed too easy, and Agent caits wondered if they had got caught, and this was merely lulling them into a trap. Waiting as Agent Dioxide did the more serious dirty work, Agent Caits thought on it.

But no one came. there were no alarms. No fear. Nothing. Which just made her suspect something more sinister. Yet Agent Dioxide came out safely.

'yes'

She replied to his query, glancing at the time.

[Dioxide]

‘Well, whatever that switch is, it sure isn’t one that lets me stay awake forever.

I think I’ll sleep now, Cody. You should too.

I’ll… see you tomorrow, hopefully.’

---

‘Alright, so just stay on guard for the rest of your duty, and I’ll send you a copy of what I just got – I could only get one file at a time, so coming back, though risky, might be our only option for now. Catch you later.’

It was near 1 am, and Agent Dioxide stealthily rushed his way back to his office. The design of the EMP pulse grenade allowed for multiple uses – though because of this, it required that when used on the field that they be taken back when used, often done by the field agents, or the sweeping team later on. The grenades used back in the Shooting Range would be swept back by Stock Take, and one grenade would be missing from the five Agent Dioxide requested. Chuck it up to a crack that the grenade fell into in that cave he was in.

He sat down in his chair, catching his breath and arranging the 20-page file on his lap. Even in his own office, he did not feel secure.

***

Date and Time: 11/03/2016, 0600

To: Agent Caits
From: Agent Dioxide
Attached: File on Subject 1

I attached the scans of the file on Catherin Winters, but I will summarize what I found.

• Subject was on good behaviour.
• Data was extrapolated through use of surveillance footage, interviews, background research, and neuro-imaging.
• Subject was then released to return a new life. Her disappearance was played off to ‘being lost due to a manic, one-time, stress-induced panic.’

Now I wasn’t here when Subject 1 was, but that sounds like utter bullshit. The weird thing about the Information Vault is that it isn’t a vault at all. It’s a computer with a bunch of files in it, and a printer next to it. Nothing suggests that there was a hard-drive or cables running in and out of the monitor. It won’t be for another time when we get to go to the information vault again – and I doubt the new doctor is going to give us the codes so easily.

This operation has failed before it even started.

File #53

***

To: Agent Caits
From: Dr Jiang-Ping

Please bring both Subjects 29 and 30 to Conference Room 18A. Task them to write a short story on a piece of paper for analysis on their psyche. Please then escort Agent Dioxide to Big Boss’ office.

File# 54

[MarshiestMallow]

'Goodnight, Gerswhin'

Cody figured he would have trouble sleeping, trouble getting to sleep, even as he laid back. The song was on his lips. something long forgotten that despite the fact he sang it was even now vague and undefined, and yet a response by light proceeded.

'Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay
Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay
Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby
Back to the years of loo-li lai-lay
And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you tomorrow
Bless you with love for the road that you Travel'

The few lines trailed off, and Cody drifted in a state between sleep and wakefulness.

---

Agent Caits nodded, settling in for the rest of her shift, as if she had done nothing else. One thing you learned here was how to act, and how to act well. She figured she had done well enough with Big boss, or she would have ended up as Dr Baoning presumably had.

Still, she was glad when her shift was over, and she could leave the vault area. Reading the emails, Agent Caits suppressed a snort at the data for subject one. It was, to her, utter crap. So far, none of the subjects had been fully cooperative, Cody included.

It would be simple enough to prove otherwise, if they could access a computer that would lead them to outside communications. Some simple hacking...but that wasn't going to happen.

She Took the time to respond to Dioxide.

To: Agent Dioxide
from: Agent Caits

If the operation had failed, we wouldn't be here. We are fine. We just have to figure out another way of working this out.

As for subject one, well. This data could easily be fabricated if it was on a computer.

I'm to escort you to Big boss, later. Be prepared

file#55

Sighing, Agent Caits rubbed wearily at her temples, before going to Cody and Gerswhin's cells. How they expected Cody to write a short story was behind her-even with his abilities he didn't seem to be able to write, and printing in Braille might be time consuming.

'Gerswhin? Cody? Are you up?'

[Dioxide]

It was a shock for Gershwin to realize that she awoke looking up at a metal wall, the ceiling of a containment room, not her room. It was odd to awaken to a baleful place while being called the first name – as if all formalities were gone and they were close. No way.

‘What? First names now? That’s not going to help, Agent Caits.’

[MarshiestMallow]

Agent Caits was silent for a moment or two, before giving a sigh. She didn't expect friendliness, nor did she even expect anything less then open hostility, not when they had kidnapped the subjects and brought them here. When she spoke, it was with a weariness that seemed bone deep, that touched her very soul.

'It helps me to remember I am human, and that I'm sorry for my part in everything. It helps me, because despite the fact they want us to be at a distance, it isn't. It's too damn personal to be distant. I track. I gather information. I hunt. And I capture. I live and breath your data, others data, live and breath it all. So it damn well is personal, so it's either first names or become so distant to it all, that I am no longer human. It doesn't need to help you. It helps me'

She didn't mean to say it all, didn't mean to let that all come out. But it had, and there was no taking it back. So she merely unlocked the cells, waiting for Cody and Gerswhin to come out, knowing that they could take her on, and make a good attempt at escape, but neither of them were stupid. They would know they wouldn't get far.

[Dioxide]

To: Agent Caits
From: Agent Dioxide

Alright. I’ll be in the cafeteria. Come find me when it’s time.

You don’t think we’ve been discovered, do you?

File #56

---

It was one of the stranger reactions that Agent Caits could have given to Gershwin, and it shook up how she wanted to see her. When the door was opened for her, a bit of anxiety ran through her spine to see the much taller woman to be so inviting and intimidating – a mix of feelings that made her hesitate to get up from her bed and meet her. But get up she did eventually, and did not speak to Agent Caits nor Cody as the three stood in the hallway. She maintained eye-contact with the two, but did not speak a word. Already a weird way to start off the day, but that was the way around here – and it was preferable to the needles and invasion.

Though Gershwin wanted to initiate small talk, she thought otherwise in shame for her assumption back in the cell. If she was so human, why do all this? It was as odd to be so ambivalent and oxymoronic: a friendly human hunter, almost as bizarre as they themselves with abilities. Is Agent Caits really what she makes out to be? What was more to her?

She contemplated as she and Cody finally end up at a Conference Room 18A. There inside was an old, fairly-slouched lady with graying hair and wrinkled lines. Despite her advanced age, she moved and operated as if she were no older than 30, as if her mind and spirit fight continuously to overcome her ever failing body. The fascination was destroyed when the lady in her white overalls – a scientist, presumably – turned and grimaced, repulsed by their very sight.

‘Subject 29, please sit on the far end of the table. Subject 30, please enter that cubicle in the corner behind me. Agent, you may leave.’

Fearful to disobey orders from this now-haggard-looking doctor, she followed instructions and sat down. In front of her was a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. Inside the cubicle, she saw a chair and a video camera fronted to face the chair – perhaps Cody will be recorded doing something. With him in mind, she met his gaze, as she waited for him to react. ‘Don’t start a fight, Cody…’ she thought.

[MarshiestMallow]

Agent Caits was a little unprepared for Gerswhins reaction. It appeared she had given the girl pause, and Agent Caits was curious about that. Agent Caits allowed Gerswhin time to compose herself, taking the time to do so herself, reigning in the emotions that had made her speak so.

Walking them to the room, Agent Caits didn't strike up conversation, to concerned with Agent Dioxides visit to the big boss. Once they were delivered, Agent Caits reluctantly left, wondering still how they would enable Cody to do this.

To: agent dioxide
From: agent Caits

No, or I'd be called in as well. Stay calm. It may just been a questioning on your loyalty to this. Like I was asked before.

Lie. And lie well. Lie so convincingly that you yourself believe it, and more importantly so that big boss believes it.

file 57

---

The morning seemed to be a strange one indeed. The small confrontation in the cells left Cody with a curious feeling of anti climax. Almost like Agent Caits had defused a bomb with her raw words. The two seemed content to walk in silence, and Cody merely stayed silent as well, but he did reach out and give Gerwhins shoulder a squeeze, uncanningly touching her shoulder with ease, despite his lack of sight. Or perhaps because of it.

As they were told what to do, Cody merely blinked. While he could, of course, see in his own way, this new doctor didn't need to know just how well he could see. He stared at the woman with determination. He would not look away.

[right]'excuse me, Ma'am. No doubt you are aware of my blindness, and my ability to see with my powers, but even I can find it difficult to deal with cubicles-all that dark space amoung the light. I may need assistance ensuring I do not a chair for someone'[/rigjt]

He spoke politely, and have a slight shake of his head to GersehinC who seemed intent on having him do nothing. Once settled, Cody would sit, feeling mildly claustrophobic.

[Dioxide]

Dr. Jiang-Ping watched as Cody sat in his chair in the cubicle, and turned to confirm that Gershwin was seated as well. The two were ready to take on their task, and she spoke aloud so that both may hear her.

‘Please tell us a short story. Use the keywords provided on the TV screen there. Subject 30, your keywords will be played by audio. The length of the story is up to you, but you must finish by 10 minutes. As soon as I slide Subject 30’s door close, you two may begin.’

She turned and reached for the glass door, sliding it close. A rush of air escaped and the glass cubicle was sealed shut. It was soundproof, so no one from the outside could hear him. A red light on the camera shone, indicating it was now recording.

In the cubicle via audio, and through the TV in the conference room, came the words:

“Dog, Crawling, Dilemma, Branch, Toy.”

Many questions could be asked as to what they expected, but the look on Dr. Jiang-Ping’s face answered only one: no talking, and no asking.

***

Those were strange words to write a story with. Anything with a dilemma was going to be terrible, or at least difficult. Though it wouldn’t be difficult to write around the dilemma to make a happy ending, Gershwin still needed to talk about it and get around it. Writer’s block didn’t help, and the pressure with the time counting down was terrible – a Subject’s inspiration, creativity – and hope, presumably – did not last here. But try she did, and she looked to Cody, who was doing his own work with the camera. Though she could not reach out to him, it was enough for her when she for the briefest of moments admired how attractive he was to have the story needed.

“A dog once strolled alongside a river. It liked to spend time alone, not wanting to have to depend on the availability – to interpret it negatively, the fleetingness of their time. So, while he did occasionally play with the other dogs, it was introverted and the others did not know him very well.

During his stroll, he stumbled upon a branch of a sizeable length. It was lodged into place in the crevices of the rocks just at the shoreline, holding and fighting back against the mild-looking but ultimately dangerous flowing river. The dog hazarded that pulling it out would not be so difficult so he attempted it. In the meantime, a lovely bird was spectating the scene.

‘Don’t do it,’ the bird spoke, ‘it’s dangerous.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ the dog replied, ‘I can handle it.’

‘Why do you need the stick anyway?’

‘To use it as a toy, to play.’

‘With yourself? You’re going to throw and retrieve the stick yourself?’

‘What’s wrong with that?’

‘Doesn’t that seem odd to you?’

‘I don’t need your advice on how to play. This is fun – I’ll have fun.’

The dog clamped its teeth into the branch like a vice on a metal rod. Try as he did, the branch refused to be uprooted from the rock bed.

‘Surely, there are other dogs to play with – other means to play other than by yourself.’

‘Just leave me alone.’

‘Why won’t you play with them?’

‘Because they don’t like me.’

‘They do like you; you’re just not giving them a chance.’

‘No, they think I’m weird and I can’t do anything as well as they can.’

‘That’s what you think.’

‘That’s what they all think!’

As the dog grunted out his anger, he pulled out the branch halfway, but in the momentum the soil was loosened, and the dog slipped into the raging river. The water was cold and shock overtook his body, but he kept his bite and hung on. His life depended on the branch he tried to uproot. The bird then flew down and landed just before the branch, clasping her wings close.

‘The branch is too big: you have to let go for me to help you.’

‘I’ve got it, let me alone,’ the dog spoke through his teeth. His eyes bulged as the branch loosened slightly more, and the dog swung violently, his body in the whims of the terrible waves.

‘Why must you be so stubborn and closed?’

‘Because nobody likes me! I can take care of myself! No one likes me!’

‘… Let me like you,’ the bird whispering, which the dog almost did not pick up. The dog, choosing in his potentially last moments of his life to trust this bird, released his bite and he submerged into the water. However, the bird’s feet grabbed for the dog’s legs, and she flew him out of the cold waters and brought him to the beach side, the dog crawling as he shuddered from the cold. The branch broke free, and was washed away.

‘It was not much of a dilemma, but I had to make you think,’ the bird spoke softly, but hard, authoritative but caring, like a genuine friend.

‘I’m sorry,’ the dog spoke, defeated in shame of his own arrogance.

‘Don’t be. You don’t learn these kind of lessons without others to watch over you.’

‘Who are you? Why help me?’

‘Even if no one is there for you, any and at all times, know that there is always someone that cares,’ and the bird flew away before the dog could reply.

File #58

[MarshiestMallow]

The minute Cody was encased in the cubicle, he had a mild panic attack. Cut off from sound, he found himself completely without the sense to truly understand he was safe. His fingers dug into the table, as he tried to calm himself, deliberately drawing in slow breaths, until the sound of his own heart beating wasn't the only thing he could hear. After another few seconds, he could hear more sounds from outside the cubicle, and he relaxed.

He had wasted perhaps a moment, and he had missed most of the words, but Cody still began.

A dilemma. Everyone faces one at some time or another in their lives. Whether it's trying to reach the highest branch, or learning to throw a toy for a dog, or even if it's beginning that long crawling journey to become an adequate adult.

The young boy was staring at the current dilemma he was facing. His kite was stuck in a tree, and the closest branch to him was just that bit out of his reach. He wasn't strong enough to pull himself up without the branch helping, and besides the trunk was too slippery.

He held a rock in one hand, but he didn't want to throw it, in case he damaged the kite.

He was skinny, dangerously so as if he didn't eat enough, his clothes were baggy and his shoes were torn and dirty, but his eyes were bright with curiosity and determination.

Throwing the rock down he growled in frustration, the boy stomped a foot, and glared up at the kite, as if it had got itself caught there to spite him for wasting his pocket money on it.

"Why are you so angry?" A voice asked, a young girl appearing, in a pretty pink dress her hair up in a pony tail. This girl was a stark comparison to the boy, clean and neat compared to his dirty and scraggly.

"Because it's taunting me!" The boy said angrily, actually shaking a fist at the kite. The girl blinked as if she didn't understand.

"why don't you just get another one?" She said, innocently enough as if she didn't understand the complaint. The boy rounded on her furiously.

"Because it took me six weeks to save for that one! I had to hide my money so my dad wouldn't take it back! That ones mine! And I wany it back!"

The girl blinked again, and looked up at the tree, frowning. "Then why not climb up?"

The boy was becoming more visible frustrated as the girl tried to be reasonable, trying to figure out the situation. "I've tried! I can't reach the branch!"

The girl looked up at the branch, and then back to the boy. "Okay then, so you need to have a step up. You look light, and I'm happy to help" and that being said, the girl got on all fours, almost like she was crawling, below the branch.

"No! I'll get you dirty"

The girl gave a laugh, and looked up at the boy. "That's what kids do. Get dirty. Have fun. Come on! You want your kite, right?"

The boy appeared torn, as he tried to decide to accept her help or not. She was already getting dirt on her pretty clean dress, and he wanted the kite. He was worried about hurting the girl, but she seemed sturdy enough, and he was light, always hungry like he was.

The boy finally have a sigh, and stood to climb upon the girls back, wondering if he should have offered to be the stool. Would it be more...honorable? He didn't know. As he rose, he could finally reach the branch, and he grabbed hold, swinging slightly to wrap his legs around it as wel, before managing to get on top of it.

He panted slightly, before continuing his journey to the kite, the girl down below cheering him on. He nearly slipped a few times, before he managed to free the kite. When he was he asked the girl "why did you help?"

She smiled brightly "everyone needs help sometimes"

file#59

---

Agent Caits was reluctant to leave the subjects, but she knew she had to. Moving towards the cafeteria, Agent Caits thought on the fact dioxide was facing big boss, hoping that they hadn't gotten caught.

Arriving at the cafeteria, she looked for Agent dioxide

[Dioxide]

The ten minutes were up, and the session was over. Of all the tests that were done to them, this felt the most odd. Surely the personality traits were the last thing they’d be interested in. Their agenda was still a mystery to Gershwin, considering the methods they previously employed. Investigating the source of their abilities must be the true test of what the human race can do; never mind space and time travel, solving this phenomenon could lead to answers to the progression, and perhaps the ultimate goal of life, giving us a purpose.

Lost in her train of thought, Gershwin was brought back to reality when the cubicle door slid open, as the doctor spoke in the deafeningly silent room:

‘The test is now over. Wait here while Agent Caits returns to bring you to your next activity.’

She spoke the word ‘activity’ as if all the semantic correlations of fun, joy, and movement was sucked dry from it. This showed in her rush to leave the conference room, leaving the two Subjects alone. No doubt there were guards outside watching over them, so they had no choice but to wait.

‘What do you think they want to do with knowledge of our abilities?’

---

Agent Dioxide walked over to Agent Caits, not wanting to waste more time than needed.

‘I guess they’ll want you back to pick up our Subjects 29 and 30. Just take me to the office, and get going.’

[MarshiestMallow]

Alone in the cubicle, Cody knew the ten minutes had passed, and he was starting to grow concerned once more, the deafening silence pounding on his ears. He breathed in and out slowly, trying not to imagine that the walls were crushing him.

As the cubicle was opened and fresh air entered, Cody let out a long breath, before rising and leaving the cubicle, he was relieved to have sounds assaulting his senses once more. He moved over to Gerswhin, glancing to the doctor, but no more then that, looking back to Gerswhins brightness.

He pondered her question, wondering if he should answer truthfully what he thought or not. He swallowed, and chose his words carefully.

'I think they are looking for answers. I think that they want to be able to replicate our abilities. To use them in war. I think they want to create a destructive force. Understanding what we can do, how we think, is probably a way of doing that.

And I think, I fear, that they will figure out everything I've done has been a way of sending them on a goose chase'

The last sentence was spoken softly, barely audible, as he glanced about them.

---

Agent Caits nodded, starting towards big bosses office. She had been wondering why she was required to take him to Big Bosses office, and the only thing she could think of was that they knew what Dioxide had done.

She hoped that that hadn't occurred to him.

'No doubt'

It was all she said as she took him to the office

[Dioxide]

‘God, I hope they never find that answer – especially mine. If there’s one thing the world does not need any more of, is another catastrophe, or a kind of world war that many people have dreaded for years to never come. Nuclear, they used to say was what would be the cause of it; nope, it would be a bunch of power-hungry anomalies.’

Right on the dot, at 0700 on the clock, Agent Caits opened the door and stood at attention, presumably waiting for them to exit.

‘Where’s Agent Dioxide? What’s the plan now?’

---

Date and Time: 11/03/2016, 0650

Agent Dioxide had to treat it as a routine event, effected by perhaps the need of a status report – the kind of information that is not written on paper, but is nevertheless invaluable for assessment of both Subject and Agent. Still, the throbbing pain that is his pacing heart made him worry that his appearance would betray the notion of his innocence. In that way, Big Boss did not need a lie detector, as his very presence demanded the truth, that he could somehow sieve through your lies and break you apart.

‘Sir?’

‘I believe I should speak to the Higher-ups about having stricter qualifications on the recruiting of Agents. How does someone like you – with a severe form of Precordial Catch Syndrome – even walk up the damn stairs, let alone pass the physical exams, without dying?

Yes, I know about it. Your dilated pupils, slight perspiration, fidgety legs, and your shirt is literally moving with your pulsing heart.’

‘Sir, I more than make up for my physical complication with my ability to plan and think incredibly well. I coordinated the extractions of 12 of our Subjects, including our most recent 29. I always strategize 10 steps ahead of my first, and that makes me very competent.’

‘Yes, your 190 IQ is indeed impressive – though nothing to my 280, it’s still valuable. Which leads me to the question I have for you:

How would you prepare for field-tests with the Subjects 29 and 30?

‘Sir?’

‘Unlike most of our Subjects, these two possess actual offensive, and combative abilities. The last one we had, Subject 3, had Acidic Poison Generation, but was not immune to his own acidic poison. Bloody fool sprayed poison on himself and died.’

But 29 and 30…. The possibilities are up there. I would like to know how you think we should operate.’

‘Sir, I believe we can handle a ”fight simulation” with Subject 30, but Subject 29 is something else. We don’t yet know the extent of which her abilities go, and whether or not we can subdue and control her once in her enraged form.’

‘I thought you said you plan very well.’

‘I do, sir, but I don’t think even with the combined power of five armies can we hope to control Subject 29. Field reports of her initial extraction says otherwise.’

‘Then we bring in ten armies. The fact that she’s here in our control means she is stoppable.

You disappoint me, Agent Dioxide. Leave.’

There was nothing else he could argue with. He could not provide an answer sensible enough to persuade Big Boss otherwise that this was a bad idea. He stood, and turned to leave. When his hand reached for the door knob, Big Boss spoke:

‘Return the grenade.’

That made him jump, his heart ached and he feared that he would collapse then and there. But he opened the door quickly enough for him to slam it closed and catch his breath.

[MarshiestMallow]

Cody gave a soft sigh, the thought of powered individuals in war, of those that could do what he could, or what Gerswhin could, out there in war terrified him. War terrified him anyway, but he suspected that if any powered individuals were involved in war, they'd be controlled and that would make things worse. He looked to Gerswhin with unerring accuracy.

"Then we had best make sure they don't find the answers they are looking for"

He fell silent as he heard Agent Caits footsteps, glancing to the door as she appeared. She faltered, just slightly, as it seemed that sightless gaze was peering right into her soul, before drawing a breath.

"Dioxide is in a meeting. As for what the plan is now, well, I'm to take you to another test. That's all I know, Gerswhin."

Agent Caits managed to keep her voice even, but Cody tilted his head slightly at the slight tint of worry to her tone. He doubted anyone else would catch it, nor the slight elevation to her heart beat, both clear signs she was stressed. What had happened? What was going on?

"Come on, you two. These tests aren't that bad, and if you give the doctor what she wants, it will be easier. Don't do anything to get yourself split up again. I doubt I'd be able to go to bat for you again on that front"

Cody recognized the subtle warning in her words, and he gave a smile, rising, unfolding his tall frame like a sunflower reachin for the sun.

"Oh, Agent Caits. You and I both know I could have escaped when I opened the door, and you and I both know that I could still easily escape. But what would be the point?"

With that, Cody waited to be shown where they were going next, hoping he wouldn't be placed in a cubicle again.

[Dioxide]

United Nations Anomalies Research Mission

Date and Time: 11/03/2016, 0700

Analysis Report

I observed that Dr Baoning’s style of writing in these reports leave much to be desired when it comes to formal professionalism. However, in keeping with the heuristic- and I myself would like to dedicate more time to actual research than writing up reports for them – I will allow myself leeway, lest progress is hindered from my wasting time with bureaucratic nonsense.

Review of previous observations by the doctor has suggested that the abilities of the Subjects are psychological, controlled by the mind, choice, spirit, what have you. We may also assume that such factor is linked to the inhibition of their ability progression – their own minds not yet developed or mature enough to fully release their potentials, or perhaps the mind physiological is incapable of further evolution, at least not when the Subjects are fully rational and intelligent.

Which is what led me to the decision to experiment to the extent of their abilities with hallucinogenic drugs. It is a risk to administer these drugs to both Subjects, but we will never develop without braving a few steps. From mistakes, we learn; from success, we progress.

File #60

***

To: Agent Caits; Agent Dioxide
From: Dr. Jiang-Ping

Escort the Subjects to my lab after breakfast.

Bring in five teams of motivators.

File #61

To: Agent Caits
From: Agent Dioxide

Christ what are they doing now?

I’m making the call for the motivators – I hope we’re not in for a goddamn bloodbath.

File#62

[MarshiestMallow]

To Agent Dioxide:
From: Agent Caits

I don't know, but I don't think it will work out! Will they destroy them for their own answers?!

file#63

---

Agent Caits was reluctant to take Cody and Gerswhin to the new doctors lab, yet she did. The fact that there would be five teams of mediators told her what was going to happen was incredibly risky. She didn't give a damn about the mediators, or the doctor, or even herself, but what would this experience do to Cody and Gerswhin?

She reluctantly collected the two, wishing she could tell them to be prepared and what they could expect, but finding that wasn't possible least she reveal her true nature towards them. Delivering them to the lab was perhaps one of the hardest things she had done so far, `and to learn what was to be done to them infuriated her. What happened if they pushed Gerswhin too far, that she couldn't come back from it, or, jesus, what would Cody experience?

Agent Caits wanted to speak up, but she knew that would merely make things worse for Cody and Gerswhin not to mention herself. While she didn't particularly care about herself, ,being able to make their lives even slightly better for them was something she needed to continue to do. Sighing to herself, she waited to see what the doctor would do.

[Dioxide]

Agent Dioxide knew from experience that it was procedure to request and possess an odd number of units whenever an action was to be done. The pairs would be coordinating together doing their own thing while the final remainder acted as control and backup for the whole squadron.

Walking side-by-side with the five teams to the laboratory, he, looking at the corner of his vision, could pick out which people would be the remainder team – not the large bruisers with heavy weapons strapped to their hulking backs, but the menacing, calm, collected ones whose feral eyes hinted a bright intelligence. Brain and brawn, the kind of mixture that Big Boss liked to see under his command.

The sight must be been ill-boding and terrifying, and Agent Dioxide himself felt out of place dwarfed by their size, and ostracized by the differences in what they fought for. He for their freedom, and otherwise efficiency, they disdainful power display and terror.

Gershwin and Cody had stood in place, their presence ignored by the people in lab coats around them. She shuddered and shook in the cold air-conditioning that kept this large expanse ventilated, though it still smelled of a peculiar sanitizing agent and if one paid close attention, the ferric odour of blood. What brought her back to attention was the sight of Agent Dioxide leading nearly 20 large, armed men into the laboratory. She was afraid to look at them at the eye, afraid that their hateful demeanour translated to actual violence the moment she even breathed so she held still.

But then, something dawned on her.

Dr. Jiang-Ping walked over to the two, giving enough breadth for her ‘antropocentric comfort’, and gave orders:

‘The rooms behind me will be where your experiments are held for today. Subject 29, plea-‘

‘Why should I listen to you?’

Everyone, including the static, soulless scientists, looked at her in disbelief.

‘What did you just say?’

‘My abilities are linked to pain, right? Destructive abilities. You can’t touch me, and you can’t order me or Cody what to do!’

Dr Jiang-Ping growled in anger.

[MarshiestMallow]

The whole thing was overwhelming to Cody, from the sent of blood, although faint was nevertheless overwhelming to him, to the different people, the number of footsteps, and the light from them all. He felt Gerswhin shudder, and looked over to her, with worry, hoping she was okay. Cody took it all in, absorbing it all, and wishing he was anywhere else. At Agent Dixoides footsteps, alone with many other people, Cody stiffened, looking to the large group. Unlike Gersswhin, he didn't have an issue with looking the group in the eye-of course it was more intimidating for them then for him.

As Gerswhin questioned the doctor, Cody grimaced, and sighed softly.

'Your abilities may be linked to pain, Gerswhin, but mine aren't, and they could manipulate you by harming me'

he said this softly to her, leaning in closer, appearing to make every effort to say it only softly enough for Gerswhin to her, but he suspected the doctor would consider this an option anyway. He shifted, fully expecting some form of attack on him, as a way of forcing Gerswhin to comply as well as a way of conducting whatever experiments they had in mind now on him.

He didn't want to see Gerswhin hurt, so he stepped forward, and spoke.

'leave gerswhin be for now, I'll give you what you want'.

It wasn't noble, nor was it even brave. He just didn't want to see his friend hurt, nor did he want to be responsible for her being hurt. So by doing this, he was merely preventing that, even for a little bit.

'But I may not give you the answers you seek. have you ever thought about that, Doctor?'