[Location: Unit 4, Monitoring Room & Cell Room Of T.S No. 0604]
The guards did their work with expert precision as soon as they were sure that Hel had fell into a state of unconsciousness. Despite having to put a tough and scary front as part of their jobs, the evident fear in their eyes were not difficult to miss. Blake Wilson continued to watch from the small monitoring room as he sipped on his now cold coffee, this was already his fifth cup within the span of only two hours.
Earlier today, he had unknowingly lied to Hel about her schedule for the day but oddly enough, he felt no sense of guilt for the action. 'I was shocked too', he thought, sipping his coffee, his eyes still glued to the screen. A few minutes ago, Blake had found an envelope sent directly from the White House inside his office.
Puzzled by the fact that the President himself had sent him something, he was even more confused when he took out the single piece of paper inside the envelope. It was a list consisting of experiments that he wanted Blake to conduct that day and send the results by tomorrow night. He was already busy with the pilling paperwork on his desk due to past tests, but he guessed that those would have to wait.
'Is he trying to kill both me and Hel?', he thought troubled by the number of tests that were known to be excruciating even for the bionics. Hel did have an unnaturally high tolerance for pain but even he wasn't sure if she could survive that much. He tried calling the President soon after he read the contents to warn him, but it was useless.
'He's still the stubborn politician I met years ago.', Blake thought, his day already ruined by the untimely addition of work.
"Sir!", the intercom blared to life, startling the old scientist.
"What's wrong?", Blake asked, clearly alarmed.
"We're done with restraining No. 0604", one of the guards replied unaware that he had scared the living shit out of the poor man.
'You didn't have to shout, now did you?', Blake thought, followed by a sigh of relief.
"Very well, now move her to the transporting cube and I'll take charge from there." He said into the microphone when he heard one of the men scream in pain.
"What's going on?!", Blake asked as he looked at the monitoring screen, it looked like Hel was wide awake, and very upset. However, she was already in the inside the cube, unable to move anything other than her head.
Blake pressed the emergency button in the middle of the panel and immediately exited the monitoring room and bolted his way to Hel's cell. On the other hand, the two other guards rushed to the injured guard with one of them withdrawing a first aid kit from its compartment that all cells had just in case. After closer inspection, it was later found that Hel had bitten his left ear off.
"Jesus Christ", one of men uttered under his breath as he attempted to stop the bleeding. A few minutes later, Blake had arrived and was partially grateful to see the man still alive. "Send him to the infirmary, now." Blake ordered, rubbing his temples in dismay.
One of the two guards helped the injured man walk out of the room while the other one stayed behind to explain to Blake what had happened.
"The poor guy was just trying to put the muzzle on her when she woke up and started freaking out." He slightly hesitated before he continued. "If I'm not wrong, I think that was when he accidently touched her neck." The tension in the room immediately grew bigger.
"...Make sure you handle this quietly.", Blake whispered furiously, a silent command that the guard knew far too well.
The young man simply nodded and left the room, leaving him and Hel alone together. Fortunately, she was under control for now, the button he had pressed earlier was a safety measure created as a way to control powerful specimens like Hel. It was connected to a chip that was surgically planted in their necks, right above the nerves making that area highly sensitive.
Once the button was pressed, the chip sent an electric force strong enough to stun them temporarily so others can take charge. 'In her case, maybe a few minutes?', Blake guessed as this was the first time he had used it on Hel. He fished for something in the pockets of his lab coat and took out a small but futuristic looking mechanism.
He pressed a few keys which made two small pairs of wheels stick out from the bottom of the transporting cube.
"Come on now, Hel", he said to the motionless figure. "We're already fifteen minutes late for your first test". With that, Blake and Hel exited the cell chamber before passing through the heavily guarded corridors and into the main building of Xellene.
[Location: Ground Unit, Corridors]
"Max!", I shouted for my idiotic friend as he pushed his way through the crowd of mad scientists. "Come on, you slowpoke!" Max insulted me as he came back to pull me into a run. "At this rate, we're never gonna get there on time." Xellene was an enormous structure that was six floors high and twice as wide as an average football stadium, making it a pain in the ass if you got lost.
We were on the first floor, where the researchers spent most of their free time. It was also where the meeting rooms and cafeteria was stationed, the food here, much to my surprise, was delectable.
"The labs on the second floor." Max declared, rubbing his chin, thinking. "And the elevators aren't going to be available any time soon."
"Why is everyone so set on catching a glimpse of her?" I asked. "Don't they have work to do?"
"Half of these oddballs transferred to Xellene for miracles like Hel, Liam." Max explained as he began walking. "They have work but 0604 rarely comes out of her cubicle. Not to mention, she's a literal miracle in science, of course they'd drop everything to see her."
"But isn't she dangerous?" I asked catching up to him from behind.
"She is but, she's restrained from head to toe each time she leaves her floor." Max stated nonchalantly as he opened a door that led to the emergency staircase. "And for extra precaution, she's even sedated with a powerful drug that was made specifically for her."
"Why is that?" I managed to ask as we both went up the stairs. "Simple, mind manipulation. And because she has best photographic memory." Max answered before smirking wickedly. "I told you, she's a miracle in science."
'Mind manipulation?' I thought, realizing just how powerful she was. "I thought that was impossible."
"Well, not anymore." Max said, opening another door, this time, it led down the corridors of the second floor. "How can it be impossible when the real thing is right in front of our eyes?"
We walked further down the halls and finally found the laboratory but it was locked. Max groaned in frustration.
"Hey!" We both froze as a woman's voice from the place where we just came from.
"Max! What are you doing here with the newbie?"
It was coming from a young woman that looked to be in her late twenties.
"Celia!" Max beamed with his signature smile. "I missed you so much! How's it going with 0876 and 0877?"
"I asked you a question Max, answer it.", Celia replied curtly before turning to me.
"You're here for Dr. Wilson, I assume?" I nodded in response before Max interrupted.
"I was just taking my best friend on a tour of the building." He flashed the fakest smile I've ever seen before he continued. "And I'm also here to see dear Hel."
"My name is Celia Fleming, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." She ignored Max completely before greeting me politely. I shook her hand and smiled saying, "Likewise."
"You, on the other hand, best be on your way." She glared at Max. "Prof. said no one except Mr. Wright will be allowed in."
"What?! That's not fair!" Max protested. "Where's Blake?"
"I'm here, Max." A familiar voice greeted us. He was still the same man I first met years ago, the typical oval glasses and well-built body despite being in his late fifties. There was a strange looking cubicle that followed him closely behind. Inside, was a young woman restricted by all kinds of restraining equipment imaginable.
She was stared at me with her silver eyes, piercing and cold with no emotions behind them. She appeared hurt when I noticed dried up blood all over her muzzle and neck.
"Liam, finally you're here." Blake said, patting my shoulder endearingly. "I'm sorry for not being there to welcome you to Xellene. I've been, quite busy as you can see."
"It's alright. Max was there to help out anyway." I said.
"And since I helped." Max smiled slyly. "Prof, I want in on the show too."
He plead to Blake who seemed to be contemplating the idea until finally spoke. "Only if you promise to not interfere."
"You've got yourself a deal." Max replied with a confident nod.
"Oh, how can I forget." Blake chuckled as he turned to the woman.
"Hel, meet Liam Wright, a student of mine that I took care of back in Recel."
'S-she can speak?' I thought, stealing a quick glance at her.
"Don't worry." My mentor assured me with a knowing smile. "She's quite gentle compared to the others."
"I've heard rumours that said otherwise, Prof." I argued, hesitating to even look at her.
"It's too bright." She said, her voice surprisingly soft and gentle, catching me off guard.
"Oh right, we'll turn the lights off soon, Hel." He said opening the door to the lab.
"We're conducting tests mainly on her brain today." He explained briefly.
"Since you're a psychologist, I think today's tests will be especially fascinating for you."
"I'm honoured." I muttered under my breathe, going inside after Hel.
"Get ready for the greatest moment of your life, dude." Max whispered in my ears. "Shit's about to get real."