Memories

"The one who did this is a genius. The bioengineering is exquisite," Pleja exclaimed, idly flipping through a paper report.

"Overlord, are you sure about this? We should, after all, properly input—," the researcher tentatively tried as it trailed after him.

"Bah! This will be our little secret, hmm?" Pleja said, turning his head to peer at the researcher.

The researcher recoiled visibly. His head lowered, exposing the back of his neck. Pleja smiled toothily, resuming his trek towards the bank of machines at the back of the lab. The small gathering of researchers waiting for him also shrunk back, exposing their necks submissively.

As if hearing something, Pleja paused and swept his gaze over the rest of the lab. There was nothing visible to the eye, just silently running computers and research tables. A moment later he turned back to the researchers.

Court slapped his hand over Adrian's mouth. Adrian was trembling more than the researcher. He glanced at his friend to find fine droplets of sweat forming on his forehead and starting to trickle down. Court stretched his sleeve as far as it would go over the meat of his palm and daubed at the sweat.

It wouldn't do to leave DNA in the lab. They were flash scrubbed every night, and before that, nano-sweepers came in to make sure that no valuable research material would be endangered. They wouldn't be able to explain why Adrian's DNA was here in such levels when he hadn't been called to the lab in weeks.

"I need more results than these!" Pleja suddenly roared, making Adrian as well as the researchers jump. "I need to know just how she does it. What is the mechanism?"

"We're searching for it, Overlord Pleja. We should have results for you soon," one of the researchers ventured.

"This might be a mutation of cells. None of the clones so far have expressed exactly the same results. Most have perished during testing." Another researcher straightened, holding out another paper report.

"Then it must be unique to the subject itself? A way of coping that cannot be expressed through just the gene mix?" Pleja mused as he took the paper.

"We have made strides in melding, sir. A few more results and we may be able to replicate this successfully." The bold researcher continued. Then it shrunk. "I regret to say that the last test subject was given to the Maisie container."

"What?" Pleja said. Somehow, it was so much more scary that his voice wasn't booming. "She is our most bountiful subject!"

"We do have several clones in the works for her as per your orders, sir. They will, regrettably, take time to mature if we want to make full use," the first researcher finally said, its voice shaking.

"Fine!" Pleja slapped the reports down. "Show me what you're doing with our Oaian friend."

"Just this way, Overlord Pleja," the bold researcher said, opening a secret panel.

Court waited until the group vanished into the hidden hallway. He removed his hand from Adrian's mouth.

"Wait here," he said, darting towards the reports.

Adrian silently nodded as Court reached the papers and frowned at them. With a silent thought, a nearby computer obediently extended a scan wand. He quickly flashed the papers under them before putting them back where they had landed. Court frowned for a second before carefully adjusting the pages to regain their slightly scattered look.

"Let's go," Court said, grabbing Adrian's hand and leading him from the lab.

*****

Court started awake from his doze. He was starting to dislike how disciplined the Amazons were; shouldn't someone have checked up on what's going on by now? The question brought up a plaintive echo in his brain. His jaw clenched on bitter memories. He still remembered Adrian's bewildered look when the researchers requested that he come for more tests.

They'd disassembled him, trying to find out how he projected his illusions. They, the children, had tried so hard to hide that Adrian's powers had finally triggered. It was how they discovered that there were cameras secreted in the classrooms.

His fingers clenched into a tight fist before he made himself relax. Seeing Pleja alive and well instead of blasted into particles had affected him much more than he thought.

If Pleja hadn't died, then just how many overlords had made it through Liberation Day?

Court forced himself to shove the thought to the back of his brain. If Adrian hadn't snuck out of the classroom to visit his ostensibly sick friend, none of them would have made it out.

He wouldn't have come up with the idea to see what the lab was doing with all the information it was gathering. He wouldn't have known about the hidden lab and wouldn't have mentioned it to Kaylen. He wouldn't have helped come up with the plan that got Aarti out and them the help they so desperately needed.

Court ground the heels of his hands into his eyes, slowly shaking his head. He took a deep breath and let it out. Then he opened up his laptop. It virtually purred at him, happy to be of use.

He was glad that Lucy and Aarti had 'liberated' it from police custody. Even though all it was doing was sitting in a dusty box, the police thinking it nothing more than a little hacker's computer. If only they knew…

He checked the surveillance cameras and frowned. The guards were searching the mansion again. When Court had first checked, they had been midway through. Now they were doing it again, this time much more carefully.

Someone must have mentioned that both Rena and Lucy were in the mansion somewhere. Both were considered high level targets. Lucy could effortlessly control the younger children who looked up to her as if she could walk on water. Lucy had always thought that they were silly but couldn't bear to disillusion them.

Court checked her location. She was in Simone's room still, this time talking to Aarti and Rena. From their expressions, they were arguing about something. He hoped that they didn't do anything stupid.

Then he turned his attention back to the guards. They were still on the first floor, slowly checking every nook and cranny. He noted that they were careful to avoid the large picture windows, not wanting to give their positions away.

Court understood that. He remembered the Amazons batting laser rays and bullets away during Liberation Day. Aarti's mom had shone the brightest, freshly risen from her sick bed and thirsting for vengeance. All the Amazons had been thirsty that day.

A smile slowly quirked Court's lips.

He felt that it was only right that he gave them something to quench that thirst again.