The Human Experimentation Labs
"Oh, come on! Will it really be that big of a deal if I watch?" Yona moped, putting on an exaggerated pout and scrunching up her snout comically. Charybdis nodded, half-serious, half-amused.
"Yes yes, Yona. I appreciate and understand your curiosity, but any additional variables will definitely affect the data. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait outside."
"Did Jayken get to watch when he brought in Julia and Jasper?" Yona whined. Her hyena mouth made her sound like a sad puppy. She even made puppy eyes at Charybdis, who rolled hers.
"Of course not. Consistency is key for precision and accuracy."
"Ughhhh. Fine, fine. But if you need any help, you know where to find me," Yona proffered, shoving her hands deep into the pockets of her jean shorts and sauntering off, her tail and ears drooping.
"Alright," Charybdis said, watching her leave. "Welcome to the Human Experimentation Labs! Here is the waiting room, and beyond these doors are a plethora of private rooms that I'll be conducting different experiments in. Some of these experiments will be conducted in pairs, and some of them will be conducted individually. That means that one of you will have to wait while I'm testing the other."
Charybdis gestured to two doors on the right side. "Those are the bathrooms, if you need them. If you need to go, go now, because I'm afraid I won't be able to interrupt the testing for you. There are also water fountains if you need them. They were built with medium-sized monsters in mind, but I don't think you'll have any trouble figuring out how to use them."
"There will be three different types of experiments we'll be running. After all, I won't be the only one conducting tests. I specialize in the human mind, and I supervise this entire operation, but we have two other specialists on site that I'd like you to meet," Charybdis smiled and gave a little bow as the wide double doors behind her opened.
"I don't get why we have to put on such theatrics," another monster mumbled, her claws folded against her chest. She was short, a little shorter than Silas but still taller than Saya. She had blonde hair that was so vibrant it appeared almost artificial, as if it had been tainted with some chemical. It swirled around her in striking crescents, framing a youthful but petulant face.
She wore all black from head to toe - a leather jacket with a black satchel slung around her shoulders, baggy black khakis with holes that revealed black leggings. She also sported black knee guards and strapped metal boots that looked too big and heavy for someone her size. Her claws were covered in black athletic gloves with holes for the thumbs and index fingers. There was a black choker around her neck and a thin cloak with a hood that she kept down.
She, like Charybdis, had two small burgundy-colored horns that twirled upwards to the ceiling like little spikes before tapering out. Charybdis' were smooth and graceful, this monster's horns jutted out in all directions, jagged and unbridled.
"A first impression is everything, Scylla," the monster beside her said, with a smirk on her face that reminded Silas of Saya – but much more sinister. There was a playful gleam in her eyes that seemed like she could tell exactly what you were thinking and what you were going to do next – even more so that Saya, and it instantly unnerved Silas. She was taller than Scylla, but shorter than Charybdis, with short hot pink hair which curved gently around her head before spiking out wildly as it ended by her neck. It was brushed to one side to almost cover her right eye, but it peeked out from the shadows with an ominous blood red gleam. Her horns were sharp and straight, like the prongs of a pitchfork or a trident. Her wings were black and thorny, weapons in and of themselves.
Silas noticed that all three of the dragon ladies before them had different colored eyes – eyes the color of their hair. Charybdis' eyes were a deep-sea blue, Scylla's eyes were a piercing lemon yellow, and the last monster's eyes were crimson, even more red than the Silas' and the rest of Last Stand.
"May I introduce Hydra and Scylla," Charybdis said with a half-satisfied smile. She gesticulated to the tall redheaded dragon lady to her left – Hydra – and then to Scylla on her right.
"These two are my partners at RimOps. We act as coaches who train candidates for the three separate divisions of PSEF. I'm in charge of the Reconnaissance branch. Ms. Hydra trains the Soldiers and Ms. Scylla trains the Assassins. As such, we are specialists in our areas of expertise. We'll be using our knowledge to draw as much information out of you as we possibly can about every aspect of your being. I hope that when you're not with me, you'll still be in full cooperation with my coworkers. That would be greatly appreciated."
With a little graceful bow, Charybdis stepped back and Hydra and Scylla stepped forwards. Hydra extended her hand first, and Saya took it first, hesitance clear on her face. Silas supposed she got the same vibes from Hydra that he did – dangerous. Scylla was intimidating as well, but in a less forceful and more wild manner. Silas shook Hydra's hand after Saya, and felt her claws squeeze tight around his bony fingertips. Pain shot through his joints, but he tried his best to hide it.
He shivered, Hydra's claws were so cold, as if they were part of a corpse that had been dredged up from the depths of the ocean. He looked away to avoid Hydra's piercing stare as the redhead smiled threateningly. She licked her lips conspicuously behind Charybdis' back. The message was clear.
Saya shook Scylla's hand next, and Silas was second once again. Scylla shook his hand briskly, grasping his hand then flailing it wildly about like a chew toy caught in the throat of a rabid dog. His hand was in totally control of Scylla, her muscle strength completely overpowering his. By the time she let go, his hand was reeling. He shook it out behind his back.
"Scylla and Hydra will be waiting to conduct additional tests on you two. For now – Silas, could you come with me, please?"
Silas nodded, giving Scylla, Hydra, and Saya one last glance. Charybdis was already briskly strolling through the double doors, leaving Silas no time to ponder his situation or to dawdle. He rushed out behind her, but not before throwing Saya a quick glance of apology as she was trapped in the waiting room with two other monsters who seemed just as dangerous as Charybdis.
The hallway behind the metal double doors with the circular windows smelled nauseatingly clean. It was as if ever wall, nook and cranny reeked of sterility. It was alienated from reality, sheltered – it was like a modern dungeon. The very atmosphere made Silas sick to his stomach. There was something about it that triggered something deep within him, an innate fear that lay buried, waiting to rise to the surface.
He had no memories of this place or any place like it, but his gut instinct told him that his past experiences with these types of places must've not been pleasant. He followed the tall swishing lab coat of Charybdis underneath shining metal lights burning into his skull with their invasive luminescence. He felt the heat of them on his back but felt the coldness of the walls and the air freeze his heart.
Charybdis took a right, then a left down a labyrinth of passageways, each wall looking the exact same as the other. It would be a nightmare to get lost in here – it would drive someone insane.
Charybdis was humming a song to herself, an alternative rock song from a small band. She waved and twirled her fingers to herself, at ease with her environment. This was Charybdis' natural habitat.
Finally, Charybdis stopped, clicking her heels together at an indistinct door with a number on it next to a clean and polished metal plaque. Room 1024, it said it gleaming new letters. Charybdis opened the door and held it politely for Silas, like a doorman before an esteemed guest.
The room was unspeakably plain. The walls were white, the paint fresh and new. There were no cracks and no debris nor dirt on the smooth marble floor. The rooms reflected beaming lights from above that hurt Silas to look at. In fact, it hurt Silas to look at anything in the room, it was bathed in so much overwhelming light.
At the center of the room was a small brown carpet rug and a black rectangular table, two chairs on opposing sides of it. Already on the table was a new coffee mug – her second favorite one after Redd had broken her first.
Charybdis glided across the floor, her hands folded neatly behind her back, stretching her back and accentuating her stature. Silas slunk behind her, in her shadow. Backlit against the shining spotlights, Charybdis' dark blue eye glowed. She took a seat in the chair at the far side of the room, crossing her legs and smiling placidly.
On top of the table was a holographic projector projecting a single screen. The light in the room made it near impossible to see what was on its surface. Next to the screen was an odd-looking helmet, with long wires, short and thick, extending outwards from the tip to the ceiling of the room, infinitely high.
When Silas took a seat in the chair opposing Charybdis, he eyed the strange helmet suspiciously. Charybdis gestured to it, and then pointed to her head, nodding expectantly.
"You want me to put that on?" Silas said incredulously.
"It's a mana analyzer, based off the ones we use to upkeep the radiation borders around every city-state in Lachlan," Charybdis explained. "It's 100% safe. All it does is measure your neural impulses. With this, I'll be able to see how you think when under the experiments. It's harmless, there's no need to be afraid of it."
"Sure," Silas said, giving Charybdis one last glance before putting on the helmet. It wasn't as if he had any other choice
The helmet was made out of metal and very heavy of Silas's forehead. The second he put it on he felt pressure on his forehead, as if a metal plate was pressing against it. The sides of it dug sharply under his chin and made his neck sore immediately. He could feel some sort of energy pulsing through the metal helmet and through the wires at the top of it. It scared him, but it didn't hurt. It was the fact that it didn't hurt that scared him, because then he had no idea what it was truly doing to him.
"This first test will be extremely easy and straightforward. On your projector are 15 mathematical problems, incrementally increasing in difficulty. All you have to do is transmit the correct answer with your mana, and then once you're done, we're free to move on to the next test. You will have 20 minutes, and I'll give you a warning at the ten and 15 minute mark."
Charybdis was practically exploding with anticipation, her eyes eager, almost predatory. Her claw hovered over the table, her fingers reaching out towards the projector, itching to start the timer.
A sudden strike of panic shot through SilaS. Did that mean he had to use the projector?
"Uh.. Ms. Charybdis?"
"Charybdis is fine," Charybdis said, jumping the gun at his words and butting in before he even had a chance to finish.
"I'm not sure if I can use the projector," Silas admitted.
"What, really? Why is that?" Charybdis asked, her voice short and her sentences abrupt. Silas hesitated.
"…it's a little bright in here. It's hard for me to see the projector," Silas explained. Charybdis broke out into a relieved sigh.
"Oh, is that all? Well, that's no problem at all. Here, I'll dim the lights," Charybdis smiled and snapped her fingers, and the lights immediately dimmed so that the terrible white walls melted into a dull blue-gray. The projection glowed, its outline now very visible and the text on its surface obvious and clear.
At the center of the projection was a big blue button that read, "Start test"
In the corner was a clock that read 15:00. Silas surmised that as soon as he pressed the start button it would tick down to zero, then he'd be required to stop.
Silas closed his eyes, drawing his mana to his chest. His heart was pounding – he knew that whatever information Charybdis got from the experiment was extremely important to her. He didn't want to face her if he messed it up somehow by not even being able to control the projection.
Silas stared as the start button and forced his mana outwards like a great invisible hand, pushing on the button with the energy that flowed from his chest.
However, the pressure that he felt with his third hand was far too weak to activate the button. He pressed on it, but it wouldn't budge, like a sealed container with the lid on too tight. Sweat began to pour down his forehead as his heart beat faster. He felt Charybdis eyeing him, her expectant gaze giving was to curiosity and then concern.
"You can start whenever you're ready, Silas," Charybdis said. Silas shivered when he realized that he still had no idea how Charybdis knew his name.
"Sure, sure," Silas said, trying to hide the panic from his voice. He pushed harder, but with Charybdis watching him he couldn't push at his full power. He felt his mana began to grow tired and the hand retreat back into his body. He sighed inwardly, rapidly trying to re-conjure up his mana, but it lay dormant, spent. He felt a slight bout of dizziness and nausea begin to creep in, remembering Wicke's word when she was under Rekka's influence – after using all of his mana he could experience these symptoms.
He felt the mana within him begin to replenish itself slowly as he lost control of the projector. But in that time period, he was too tired to attempt to press the button, and the clock was ticking. Charybdis wanted to get the experiments done as quickly as possible – it was evident in the brisk way she walked and her expectant, excited eyes, which were now worried.
"Are you alright, Silas? If there's something that's preventing you from starting, it's best you say it now so I can adapt the experiment for your liking."
"I," Silas started, then looked away, lest Charybdis direct an angry glare at him that burnt itself into his mind after what was coming next. "I can't control the projector."