Five’s comment about one of the Subject’s having wings caused another familiar pang of déjà vu. Two realized he had missed a lot during the past two days he was out and that he would have to look more closely in his memories and be less dismissive between what he initially perceived as a dream. Feeling out of the loop, he turned his attention inward as he attempted to extract that particular vision to see if he could get more clarity out of it. His efforts yielded different results as a different vision played through his mind.
”Neuro-override chip has been successfully connected to subject 7-10’s cerebrum and is running parallel to the psionic amplifier. Incisions are closed and sanitized. Nurse, prepare to run the calibration software.”
One of the masked nurses moved to the operation table and carefully connected an electrode to the base of Ten’s skull, taking extra care to make sure it was in the correct place.
“We are ready for calibration, doctor.”
The silhouetted doctor moved to one of the many pieces of equipment placed around the operation table and manipulated one of the control panels. Once he did so, Ten’s body tensed and went rigid as though she had just grabbed hold of a live wire.
“Calibration twenty percent complete. Forty percent. Seventy percent. Ninety- what the hell?”
Without warning the operating room was cast into darkness as electrical components powered off. “Guard, what is happening?” There was a murmured conversation between a male voice and the electronic squawk of a radio. “The power is out in the entire facility. Technicians are already switching over to the backup generators. Power should be restored in a few minutes.”
With an impatient grumble, the doctor relented and waited. Sure enough, five minutes later the lights flicked back on and the various medical components came back to life in a myriad of chimes and beeps. “Alright, let’s rerun the calibration software once more just to make sure it took.”
“The Subject’s vitals are returning to normal levels, Doctor. The anesthetics are wearing off; she’ll be regaining consciousness soon. Neuro readings are within safe tolerances.”
“How are her psionic readings?”
“Steadily increasing, well above what we recorded before the procedure.”
“Excellent! So far, the Persephonian trial has gone without incident… Just to be safe, check her restraints once more and stand ready at the override.”
……….
“Restraints are all secured, Subject neuro-override is ready.”
“Doctor… You may want to take a look at this.”
“What is it, Nurse?”
The figure in a white coat walked towards a nurse who was observing a machine the clicked in a similar fashion to a Geiger counter. The frequency of the clicks was rapidly increasing.
“Her latent psionic readings are starting to spike; they're much higher than initial estimates predicted…”
The doctor let out a worried grunt of introspection. “This is looking a little too similar to the Athenian report. Nurse… Override and lock down Subject 7-10’s body; I want her conscious but unable to move or see us.”
“Alright, Ten’s body is locked...” Before she could finish the announcement, Ten’s body convulsed on the table as several of the monitors attached to her began chirruping in alarm. “Doctor, there has been a malfunction with the connection between the amplifier and the override!”
“Shit! It must have shorted! Nurse, put in the mouthpiece before she bites off her tongue!”
“Her vitals are exceeding safe parameters, she’s dying!”
“We need to induce a coma before-“
Without warning, all the chaotically toning monitors abruptly regained their steady rhythm apart from device monitoring her psionic levels, which had reached a point where the clicks were indistinguishable between one another.
The Subject’s eyelids snapped open, revealing obsidian irises that would have been more appropriately placed on a feral animal than a young female black leopard in her mid-teens. In that instant, the room was filled with a blood-curdling scream as she began to thrash against her bonds.
“GET HER SEDATED, NOW!”
One nurse struggled to hold the young girl to the table as the other retrieved a syringe. Ten howled as the fine needle neared the flesh of her arm. The nurse screamed as she was engulfed in a plume of psionic fire. Although the flames lasted less than a second before dissipating, the nurse’s flesh was charred black and covered in deep burns. She fell to the ground; her screams and movements were feeble, but still indicated the agonizing pain that covered her entire body. A hungry grin spread across Ten’s maw upon the sight and another burst of fire silenced the injured nurse. Panic filled the room as staff scattered away from the Subject’s wrath; bursts of flame filled the room, either erupting in empty air or striking close enough to living flesh to entice an agonized shout.
“GUARD! SHOOT HER!”
Barks of gunfire echoed around the room followed by the sounds of bullets ricocheting. Instead of sinking into exposed flesh, the metal slugs struck an invisible barrier just inches from Ten deflecting them in a shower of sparks. Streams of smoke began to escape from the seams of the psionic counter as the circuitry began to overload. More bursts of fire, each bigger than the last. Ten’s rage escalated as she continued to fight against her bonds like a trapped predator.
Something pulled Two out of his trance before he could recall the all too familiar ending of a reoccurring nightmare that was only slightly modified. The disturbing vision had been far more vivid than the rest; so much so that he could swear that the scent of charred flesh and sulfur was still fresh in his nose. Terror shown in every aspect of his demeanor from his quick, heavy breathing to his wide and panicked eyes, all the way down to the fur on his back struggling to stand on end despite the clothing he wore, and even the white-knuckled grip he had on the edge of the table. Adrenaline flooded through his body prepping him for a fight or flight response while his mind was screaming in terror to run. Run far and away from that… thing.
It took him a long moment to recognize his mundane non-threatening surroundings and several moments longer to reign in the bulk of his fear. Once the portions of his brain that were in charge of higher thinking managed to regain control of Two’s cognitive functions, the tactical side of him kicked into gear.
There was a Persephonian procedure in the works, of that he was sure. Furthermore, telling of his vision and the danger that loomed over the horizon did nothing to change the outcome. Subject Ten will go under the knife and the consequences of it will affect all of them. While he did not recognize Ten, he recognized enough of the aftermath to see that it was the same facility, just a different unit and a different wing. But when? Two risked another dip into that memory and with another jolt of fear recovered the date and time on some of the lab paperwork. They had until noon on the day after tomorrow.
Two’s first instinct was to tell his therapist and allow him to pass on word to the rest of the staff. That course of action was second guessed as he remembered that did nothing to derail the procedure from its current fate. They were going to go through with the procedure, of that he was confident. With that in mind, he had one of two viable options. First, either find a way to prevent the loss of power immediately before the procedure, or two, run. Use the outage as a chance to escape and put as much distance between him and the Persephonian as possible.
But what about the others? The staff seemed set on their course of action and Two already did what he could to save them. But what of the other Subjects in his unit, his friends? They at least had a right to know and be given a chance to escape with him. Plus, the outside world was a mystery. Two had no idea what awaited him and it was only logical that he attempt to secure allies rather than facing it alone.
Topic: Machine Fur Project IC (Read 20995 times)