Project: MI
Chapter 7

Theelevator door dinged as it opened, and Richard Steiner stepped into thelaboratory, replaceing Beck and Anderson together, going over information.

“Finalcount stands at 5 parts per million,” he overheard Anderson say. “I’d say thathe’s done for the day.”

“Howis the Grey?” Steiner asked, approaching them. Both men’s heads snapped up,seemingly startled. Beck chewed his lower lip for a second, scowling inSteiner’s direction before finally looking back down to the printouts in hishand.

“Respondingremarkably to the assigned stimuli,” he replied, handing the printouts over toSteiner and stepping past him. “His readings were off the charts about an hourago to the point where you’d think he’d be killing people by just being nearthem. I almost thought he was a Gamma class at first with how wildly hisQ-Particle count was fluctuating.”

“Hmmm…”Steiner smiled as he flipped through the first few pages of the printouts.“Good… Very good. What’s your projection?”

“Weonly just started poking the monster with a stick and you’re already asking mefor a projection?”

“Iknow you already have one,” Steiner chuckled.

“Fine…”he groaned. “Anderson?” He waved at the other man, who raised an eyebrow.

“He’salready discussed it with you?” asked Steiner.

“Uh…well,it’s all theory-crafting at the moment, sir. His powers will be developing overthe course of the next few days. We expect a Q-Particle count on average of 50to 60 parts per million once he settles down…”

“That’sthe minimum estimate, by the way,”Beck pointed out.

“Soyou expect him to be more powerful, then,” Steiner said.

“Hestood at 200 parts per million at maximum,” Anderson interjected. “That’s fourtimes the maximum of some of the strongest recorded Alpha Emergent class. Er…atleast when it comes to the average standard. That’s not counting immediatetransitions to an unstable classification, such as Gamma or…”

“Yes,yes, we already know the math behind it,” interrupted Beck in annoyance,approaching a chair. Spinning it around, he sat down roughly in it, causing itto creek beneath his impact. “Anyway, he’s going to be strong. He’s going to beeverything you’ll ever want fromhim.”

Steinercarefully eyed Beck’s posture. “But…?” he prompted, already sensing that theman had more to say on the matter. Beck shrugged nonchalantly.

“Worstcase scenario, he burns out and dies.”

Atthis, Steiner jerked, taken aback. Beck noted this as he continued and filed itaway for future reference.

“Whatdid you expect?” he asked. “200 hundred parts per million. The kid wasradiating like a nuclear reactor on meltdown! I’m surprised he didn’t breakevery electrical piece of equipment around him…”

“Hewas in the park when the level began to drop,” Anderson pointed out. “Particledispersal would have been easily absorbed by the environment with littlenegative consequences to infrastructure.”

“What’syour point?” Beck shot at him in response. “He was so lit up that he could bedetected from orbital satellites. There’s no way that it’s not going to show upin the news. Albion’s news houndswill be making a twitter storm about it, guaranteed.” He shifted in his seat.“They’ll want the kid. You know what’ll happen then, right?”

“Aren’tyou being a little dramatic?” Steiner asked, composing himself.

“Youdidn’t get where you were by assuming the best case scenario, did you?”

“True,”Steiner admitted reluctantly. “How soon can we start the next stage?”

“Nottoday or tonight. The kid is exhausted by now. Green meat can’t maintain thatlevel of Q-particle radiation and notfeel it. He could be invulnerable, super strong, and have all the stamina inthe world, but virgins like him collapse like a puddle during the firsttrimester.”

“Ratherunusual and unrelated examples,” observed Steiner, passing the printouts toAnderson and looking past Beck. “Nonetheless, I think his progress should beaccelerated.”

“Huh?”Beck sat up in his chair, flabbergasted as Steiner moved past him. Scramblingto his feet, he moved to block him. “Now hold on! This project can’t stand toomany fast pushes here! If the kid gets caught or if our girl so much as slips…”

“Neitherwill,” Steiner replied calmly, easily sidestepping him and turning down thecorner of the laboratory.

“Damnit, Steiner!” Beck exclaimed, storming after him. Anderson, quickly followed inpursuit, setting the printouts down on the lab table before doing so. “This isn’t what we talked about! Stopchanging the goal posts on me! You knowhow fragile this project is!”

“Moreso now that we’re coming under oversight,” Steiner said, pulling out his IDcard upon approaching the steel-plated door. He looked at Anderson over hisshoulder. “How is she?”

“She…”

“…isnot stable,” Beck interrupted.Steiner drew to a halt, his ID card hesitating over the recognition slot. Heraised an eyebrow at Anderson.

“Isthat true?”

“Therewas a minor spike in her brain patterns,” Anderson confirmed, giving Beck anodd look. “She performed well today, but I’m not certain that prolongedactivity would be…good for her.”

Steinerwithdrew his card and tapped it against his chin thoughtfully. After a momenthe slid it through the slot, unlocking the door.

“Steiner…”Beck warned.

“I’llmake the final call,” he replied succinctly and pushed open the door.

“Iswear to the gods, that man is going to make my hair fall out,” Beck growledunder his breath.

“Isthis karma?” Anderson asked with a note of humor in his voice.

“Yoursarcasm needs work,” Beck returned with a dark glare. “Also, it’s notappreciated.”

Withnot a further word said between them, the two men joined their superior, takingcare to not trip over the multitude of cables and wires that lay across thefloor like a viper pit. Around her scurried technicians of both the technologicaland medical variety, making recordings and analyzing incoming data.

“Who’sthere?” spoke a soft, feminine voice from the center of the room and Steinerfrowned. Wires and cables shifted and he followed their course toward theseated figure they were connected to. She was tall, slender and thin, her facehalf-covered by a dome to which every wire and cable was plugged into. A smallsmile was on her pale face.

“Shespeaks?” Steiner asked, turning toward Beck and Anderson, looking somewhat disturbed.

“She’sa person,” Beck said sardonically. “I do recall that when she came here she hada full vocabulary and was fluent in at least one other language.”

“Don’tbite,” Steiner replied, returning his attention back to the girl. Her head wasturned in their direction. “Anderson? I was under the impression that she…”

“Iasked who is there?” the girl saidagain, her smile vanishing into a frown. The lights above her flickered ever soslightly before the sound of machinery thrummingto life materialized. Struggling in her restraints, the girl gasped beforeslumping in her chair, breathing heavily. Steiner narrowed his eyes as one ofthe technicians, a woman with cherry-blond hair approached, a data pad in herhand.

“Sowe’re back to this again,” Steiner observed quietly.

“Sirs,”the woman greeted. “I apologize for her outburst. She’s been very talkativesince we let her outside.”

“Ithas been a while,” Beck pointed outin a bored tone. “She likes birds by the way.”

“MisterBeck, if I could ask you to please not joke about this…”

“Youmay,” Beck said before massaging the bridge of his nose.

“What’sgoing on…” asked Steiner, glancing at the woman’s name tag. “…Doctor Jones?

“Asnear as I can tell, it’s due to her exposure to the outside world. It has beenalmost a year since we brought her in. Even with all the reprogramming that’sbeen done to her we can’t completely repress who she is. I assume Mister Beckhas informed you of his concerns regarding the patient?”

“Inso many words, but he never mentioned her talking.” He gave the man a sternlook, promising that a discussion would be had later. Beck, in return, lookednonchalant about the prospect. “How are the seals? Are they working properly?”

“Theyare. Her abilities are largely dependent on us now. She can’t do anythingwithout our say-so.”

“I’veheard that before,” Beck said, earning him another look from Steiner, but alsofrom Jones as well.

“Canwe use her right now?”

Joneslooked down at her data pad.

“Herreadings are well within acceptable levels, but due to the unexpected increasein her…animation…I would caution thatany activity be kept brief to avoid any further stress.”

“Isee.” Steiner turned to look at the seated girl carefully. “Fire her up. Beck,what is the location of the Grey?”

“Meanderingin the business district of the city last I checked. He was on South StateStreet.” He went over to a monitor and keyed in some commands. “He’s stillthere. I’ll feed her the directions.”

“Good,”Steiner nodded. “Send her in.”

Free! Free again! She rejoiced tofeel the cool breeze upon her face; the sun shining on her face. Oh, how shewished she could stay, but her handlers were…worried about her and wanted herback soon. She hated the idea of going back to that stale room of metal andwires, unable to see except whatever she was allowed to, but there was littlechoice in the matter. Not if she wanted to see the outside world again.

So she found her target, like itor not, and charged herself up to take care of it.

Jamiesat against a brick wall in an alleyway, breathing raggedly. Sweat poured downhis face and his entire body shook. A dull pain throbbed behind his temple andat the back of his skull, a result from him banging it against the buildingbehind him in sheer frustration. The bright sparks that had been in front ofhis vision ever since he finished up here were finally clearing, but it changednothing about how he felt about himself right now.

“Jamie…”began Beth at his belt in a gentle tone. “I’mpicking up Justin and Kyle’s cell phones on my GPS. They’ll be here shortly.”

Theboy didn’t say anything, and instead leaned his head into his arms, his shoesscraping against the hard concrete ground as they shifted from the addedweight. At his side, Beth’s eye winked worriedly, swiveling this way and that,wracking her circuits for something that could put him at ease.

I hate seeing him like this,she thought in her electronic mind. “Jamie,I’ve posted Monster’s picture and all information online. The local animalshelters will look into it. Until we hear something, there’s…nothing you can doabout it for now.”

“Therenever is,” Jamie finally said, raising his head just enough to see the wallahead of him. In his chest, he felt a heat growing within and at once thesparks returned to his vision in full force. He head swam and he shook it toclear it. It did little to help.

“You’ve got to calm down!”Beth said urgently. “Please! You’re onlyexhausting yourself and you still need to get home!” Her eye swung frantically.“Where… I don’t understand! Where are theauthorities? I was sure I contacted them and gave them directions on where toreplace us…”

“Whocares?” Jamie asked, attempting to push himself to his feet. The world lurchedaround him and instead of replaceing himself standing he was on the ground, coldconcrete pushing against his cheek and a sickening pain pounding its way acrosshis skull.

Beth’seye blinked twice.

“Your parents for starters,”she said in response to his question. “Yourfriends… Also…me. Jamie, I don’t know why your heroi powers are manifesting,but you need to stop pushing yourself. You’re exhausted. If you keep goingyou…you could die!”

ThoughBeth didn’t see it, Jamie’s expression sobered a little, and the sparksreceded. Bringing his hands around, he eased them at his shoulders and pushedhimself up.

“Justlike my brother…” he muttered, getting himself back into a seated position.

“What was that?”

“Just…thinkingabout how useless having these powers were,” he replied instead. “Some randomguy kidnaps Monster and I couldn’t do anything about it. What’s the point?”

“I hate to point this out,but…you’re not supposed to be a heroi. It’s for everyone’s safety.”

Jamiesimply sat there for a moment, not saying a thing until a shadow fell over him.Looking up, he found Justin and Kyle at the entrance to the alley, the formerwith his hands on his hips and looking more than a bit miffed.

“Whatthe heck are you doing sitting around like that?” he demanded.

“Feelingstupid,” Jamie replied sullenly.

“Andsorry for yourself too,” the boy returned stepping over to him. “Kyle, he lookswhipped. Help me get him up.”

“I’mfine…” grumbled Jamie. Justin looked at him in disbelief.

“Beth,is he fine?”

“He is quite exhausted, mentallyand physically. He’s also being stubborn.”

“Youheard her, my man. You’re not fine so you’re going home. Kyle? Are you going tolend a hand or what? You’re just standing there.”

“Isit…safe to?” Kyle asked worriedly, watching Justin get down next to their friendand sling his arm over one shoulder. “I mean, you saw what happened earlier…”

Justingave him a sharp glare that caused Kyle to recoil. “I don’t care what he did earlier. Are you going tohelp or not?”

Kylehesitated for a moment before coming forward and repeating Justin’s gesture,swinging Jamie’s other arm over his shoulder. Together, the pair lifted theirfriend back to his feet.

“You’resuch a dork,” Justin said as the trio exited the alley together. “What did youthink you were doing, jumping up a bajillion feet into the air for? Everyonecould see it too. You’re probably already on MyTube with fifty-million views.”

WhenJamie didn’t reply, Justin gave him a worried look before continuing.

“Sorryabout Monster. We’ll help you replace the jerk who stole him. You’ve got mypromise on that.”

“Thanks…”Jamie whispered in a throaty voice.

“Thatwas weird,” said Kyle. “What do you think that girl wanted with Monster? He’sjust a Cerberus.”

Jamielooked at the boy with a venomous glare. “He’s not just a…”

“Easy,”Justin cut in before their friend could get too far into his rant. “He’s justthinking out loud.”

“Gee…Thanks,” Kyle said in a deadpan voice. “And…sorry.”

“Noproblem,” Justin said, speaking for Jamie and earning himself a glare from himas well. “Anyway, who knows what that creep wanted. I just hope somebody replacesher real fast!” He grimaced. “Here’s hoping she didn’t get away…”

“She…shejumped away though!” Kyle said. “Like Jamie did! How can she get away after that?! It’s like you said about MyTube…”

“Onething at a time,” Justin said, shifting his grip on Jamie’s arm. “Beth, you gotthe word out, right?”

“Yes. The SPCA has received allrelevant information and will investigate. Hopefully we’ll hear somethingsoon.”

Justinsmiled. “See? We’ll figure it out. Guess it isn’t so bad being a heroi when youcan get an awesome Companion like Beth.”

Jamiedidn’t reply. Couldn’t reply. Thethought of Monster being hurt…or worse, and he could do nothing more than sitaround and wait weighed too heavilyon his mind for him to feel comforted by any silver linings in the sky.

“Something’swrong,” Beck said, chewing on a nail as he watched the readouts. “Anderson?Tell me that there’s something wrong with the tracer on this one.”

Seatedat the computer, Anderson typed in some commands and did a quick analysis. “Nosir, the tracer is fine and the telemetry is accurate.” Turning, he looked atSteiner behind them. “She’s off course, and in a big way.”

Steiner’sexpression transformed from one of quiet curiosity to one of dawning alarm.Slowly unfolding his arms, he looked back and forth between the two men. “Whereis she going?”

“Ourgirl is along Pike Street and making a turn at…Farm Acre road. Civilianresidence.” Anderson glanced at Beck. “That’s not where the target lives.”

Beckgrabbed the phone from off the counter and quickly dialed the lab. “Shut herdown,” he snapped quickly. “You heard me! Recallher!”

“I’mhome,” Kira said, more to herself than anyone else as she closed the steel gatebehind her. The Cerberus, Monster, pulled against the leash but her grip didn’tso much as budge in spite of the size difference between them. Sighing underher breath she started forth, tugging on Monster’s leash just enough to get himto fall in line beside her. As she neared her home, the door opened and shefound her mother, Amanda Baker, standing in the doorway.

“Welcomeback. How was…” She blinked, seeing the Cerberus by her daughter’s side. “Wheredid…?”

“Ifound him in the park,” Kira said simply. “He was lost and he looks like he wasin an accident or something. He’s got a nasty burn on his side.” She pointedindicatively to the injury as she pulled the animal around so it could be moreclearly seen.

Amandagrimaced at the sight of burnt flesh and nodded. “I’ll call the vet and havethem pay a visit.” She frowned as she looked the Cerberus over. The purple furtickled her memory. “Strange… I could have sworn that I saw it somewherebefore. Where did…?” Her eyes widened in recognition. “Oh! That’s it! There wasa boy in the park that I saw with him. He was being bullied by some older kidsand the Cerberus attacked one of them.”

Approachingthe animal, Amanda got down in front of it and held out a hand. Two pairs ofnoses sniffed cautiously before twin tongues reached out to lap at her skin.“Good boy,” Amanda cooed softly. “Yeah, you’re a good boy. What happened toyour master?”

“Probablygot jumped again,” Kira replied. “You said that this thing attacked one of thatkid’s bullies?”

Amandanodded. “I gave him my card in case his parents decided to pursue legal actionagainst him. His arm looked pretty messed up. I’m starting to wish that I askedthe owner what his name was. That would make returning him easier.” She lookedover his collar and found the tags. “Well, I’m guessing that he lives in thecity, so the vet should have some information. Guess I’d better get on callingthem. Could you get…Monster…somewater and make him feel at home?”

“Yeah…Sure.”

Leadingthe animal inside, Kira watched her mother disappear around a corner beforeheading into the kitchen.

Pickingup the phone, Amanda began to flip through her list of contacts for the vet,all the while carefully listening to her daughter’s movements as she led the Cerberusthrough the home. There was a brief sound of cabinet doors being opened, theclatter of bowls, and then running water. Amanda frowned.

I’m not sensing anything fromher, she thought, bringing the phone up toher ear and listening to the ringtone. MaybeDaria was being overly concerned after all…

Therewas a click on the other end and Amanda broke off from her train of thought asshe was greeted by the veterinary receptionist.

“Hi,”she said into the phone. “My name is Amanda Baker, and I’d like to have a housecall made for an animal my daughter brought home.”

Forthe next few minutes, she continued to speak to the receptionist, giving thedetails she knew and providing the name and ID number on the Cerberus’ tags.After being assured that someone would stop by, she thanked the receptionistand hung up.

One thing down,she thought, cradling the phone for a moment. Extending her senses, she foundthat her daughter had not moved from her spot in the kitchen.

She still feels as normal asever. Maybe it’s my turn to be overly paranoid. Sighing, she closed her eyes and,after replacing the phone back onto its receiver, she headed out into thekitchen to replace Kira kneeling next to Monster, scratching the back of his earswhile his two heads drank sloppily from the bowl in front of it.

“How’she doing?” she asked. Kira shrugged.

“Aboutthe same as when I first brought him in,” the girl replied nonchalantly. Amandalooked at her with mild annoyance.

“Ihope you don’t get any ideas in your head about owning an animal of your ownbecause of this,” Amanda resumed. “It’s very sweet of you, taking care of thisone when he’s in trouble, but…they tend to make a bit of a mess.” She glancedat the floor as Monster looked up, licking his chops. Rivulets of water dribbleddown to the floor with thick, heavy droplets.

Kira narrowedher eyes and curled her fingers into her palms. “Couldn’t be worse than some ofthe messes some people have alreadymade,” she said under her breath.

Hearing this, Amanda’shead snapped up to her daughter, a hurt expression crossing her features.“Kira!”

Thegirl stood up and dusted her jeans off. “I’m going to use the bathroom,” shesaid, brushing by Monster who watched her go with one of his two heads. Amandashook her head as she disappeared down the hall.

There’s just no reasoning withher, she mused before looking down atMonster, who was now looking up at her.

“Ibet you don’t have to worry about this sort of thing,” she said to him. “Food…A bed… maybe someone to pet you… I bet that’s all you ever have to worryabout.”

Monstertilted his heads to one side, panting heavily with his tongues hanging out ofhis mouths, heaving up and down like a pair of pink, overly-thick, bungee cords.

Never thought I’d be envious of aCerberus…

Kirashut the bathroom door behind her with as much restraint as she could possiblymuster. Not that she needed to try as hard as she normally would. Her controlover her increased strength was always better at home than outside. All thesame, her mother’s presence invoked deep anger in her, and as such she couldn’tafford to be in her presence for very long without risking losing control.

Sheavoided her mother as much as possible.

Flippingon the faucet, Kira splashed water over her face and swept her hands back overher dark hair, taking a deep, shaky breath.

“Ijust don’t get her,” she muttered quietly to herself, splashing more water ontoher face. “I just don’t!” She stayedlike that for a moment, her hands on her face while water dripped past herfingers. “How can she be so calmabout it?”

It’s all because I “don’tunderstand”, she thought fiercely, remembering thelast time she clashed with her mother. Her heart thumped angrily in her chest,joining her in her frustration. It was almost four months ago that theyreceived Ran’s letter, begging for help and stillnothing had been done by the woman who she called mother.

Whatwas she doing? Thinking? Why wasn’tshe doing anything?

Thequestions roiled around in Kira’s head, but they would not be answered. Thingswere well past the point where Kirawould have her questions answered by the woman. She hated it. She hated her.

“Damnit,” she whispered, dropping her hands from her face and shaking them off. “Malcolm…”she continued, reaching for the towel. “You’d better come up with something soon!I’m sick of all this stupid…”

Shebroke off as the towel was abruptly handed to her. Taking a millisecond toremember if the door at all opened since she closed it, she craned her head toreplace a face eerily like hers, but more angular and appearing as a much oldergirl. Long dark hair with blond streaks fell past her shoulders, and Kiratraced them back up to her face, replaceing dark blue eyes that were so very familiar.

“Ran?”she said in utter shock, her voice barely going above a harsh whisper. “Ran?!”

Thegirl smiled at her and simply nodded. Shakily, Kira reached out to touch her,scarcely able to believe that she was suddenly here. Her mind shouted thatsomething was very, very wrong, but she could not deny the evidence that was infront of her. Her fingers placed themselves on smooth, ivory skin and tracedalong them.

It’s her! It’s her!!!

Tearsbegan to swell in her eyes and she mouthed the girl’s name again.

Is this what they call miracles?she asked herself, bringing her other hand up and wrapping the older girl in atight hug…only for Kira to fall through Ran a second later. Bewildered, Kiranearly struck her head on the doorknob, and only managed to catch herself atthe last moment.

What just…?she began, steadying herself as she spun around. She blinked. Ran was gone. Where did she…? Kira swung her headaround, trying to make sense of it all. She was here, but then she…wasn’t?

What the hell is going on?!

Thetears of relief that had started to brim in her eyes quickly turned to ones ofrage, and with a cry of unthinking rage she swung her fist into the bathroommirror with ferocious force, smashing it and sending shards raining to thefloor.

Kirastood like that for a few seconds, breathing heavily with her fist imbedded inthe remains of the mirror. As the cloud of anger began to clear, she heard hermother’s approach, feet pounding down the hallway and shouting concern.

Now she shows concern,she thought hotly. Now she comes…

“I’mall right Mom,” she said in as controlled a voice as she could bring herself tohave, retracting her fist. Mirror shards attempted to knick at her bare skin,but simply broke and fell. “I just had an accident.” She took a deep breath tosteady herself again. “I’m…all right.”