Signs Of Humanity Chapter 10 - Sign 2
Signs of Humanity Chapter 10 - Sign 2
Sign 2
As they trudged down further into the dark damp cave, Lilith couldn't believe the strangeness of the situation she found herself in. She never went on field missions, now here she was with a stranger, who is telling her the secrets of the war she has been fighting for years. How many years was it again? Too many, she told herself not wanting to think about it.
The incident with the bear was also unnerving, and now that they have met this Marcus fellow, dressed as a rat in a secret cave it all felt like a dream. "Yes, this is like a dream, this isn't making sense". As she thought this, she noticed that the naturally formed cave walls began to look a little too straight, like hallways and Jericho’s clothes a bit too casual to be a commander's uniform, was Marcus looking a little bigger? All these thoughts swirled in her head.
"You ok back there?" Jericho sang out noticing Lilith had fallen behind.
"Yeah... I thought I might just make sure we don't have anyone else following us" she responded.
"So, what is her problem?" Marcus softly asked Jericho.
"It's a long story and one you are not a part of" he responded in kind.
Marcus looked back over his shoulder eying up Jericho. "Fair enough, why don't you tell me more about yourself? Your abilities mustn't be that powerful if a Brute is carrying around a gun".
With a slight twitch of his face Jericho shot an angry glance at Marcus as his hand tightened his grip on the gun, he was keeping it at the ready just encase. "How do you know I'm not using it as a handicap, so you have a chance" he spoke mockingly.
Marcus raised his hands in a form of surrender "That would be interesting... Sorry, I used to be a researcher you know, I have a curious mind, and I am afraid that my years of isolation have eroded my people skills".
Jericho laughed "Either way I'm not into playing my hand so easily".
Marcus laughed "No, and smart of you not to, although judging by your hair colour I say you can manipulate your body in some fashion, after all, blue is not natural for a human. You only see that occurring in those who can change their bodies make-up." The shock of how accurately Marcus could guess Jericho's abilities was betrayed on his face. "As I said, I used to be a researcher, I studied mutants in quite some detail." Marcus flashed a look of a mischievous smile at Jericho, one that aimed to try and get a rise out of him.
Not that Jericho would give such satisfaction, simply stating coldly "Well if you know some much about me you know the danger, you're in, after all, we are wild beasts that could rip you to shreds right?"
"Right.... although Jericho, you don't seem like the type to act on your emotions like that" Marcus turned his head back disappointed in the reaction.
"It is odd though, why does your name sound familiar to me? Not a normal name?" Marcus muttered trying to change the subject.
"I don't know maybe one of your test subjects had that name as well". Jericho remarked.
"No, I didn't have personal subjects I usually relied on other people's work... Wait you're from the Australian mainland, yes? Judging by your accent you would have to be?". Marcus turned around with the look of someone on the cusp of a great realisation.
"Yeah, not many other places for me to be from". Jericho joked
Thinking for a moment, "No impossible, he was locked up tight, last I read, have there been updates since then? It's been so long; I haven't seen a point in checking... You couldn't be..."
"Subject 24?" Jericho interrupted "Nope never heard of him." Jericho flashed a mischievous smile.
Turning white, well not so much white as slightly grey, Marcus swallowed his fear and began to shake.
"What's up, big guy? Do you understand your situation now? Guess I can put the gun away?" Jericho slipped his gun back into his bag.
"So how much further do we have to go?" Asked Jericho.
"Nnn not far now" Marcus stuttered, turning his head around and looking back the way they had just come.
He turned and slipped back passed Jericho taking care to not accidentally touch him "Actually, I just remembered this way is a little quicker." Marcus said as he passed Jericho.
"Sorry excuse me" Marcus murmured to Lilith as he pushed past her. "What's going on?" She looked back to Jericho. "He just remembered a short cut". Jericho shrugged.
"I see... Wait where did your gun go?" Lilith looked at Jericho confused. "Oh... We had a little talk; I don't think he'll make any trouble for now" smirked Jericho.
A head Marcus' head was exploding with stress and fear. "Why is Subject 24 here? Why did I have to run into him? Oh shit, what if he can overpower Golem what do I do? What will Olsen do if she finds out that I let them get away? Oh, fuck I'm so fucked".
"Why? What have you done now?" A voice rang out in his head. Marcus had been so occupied with his thoughts that he hadn't noticed the familiar pressure in his head.
"Marcus, what have you done?" Olsen's voice boomed in his mind and the pressure intensified.
"Mother, please listen, Jericho... the Brute... he is Subject 24 the shifter from the Broken Hill labs." He pleaded in his mind hoping she would listen. The pressure in his skull lessened which was a good sign... hopefully.
After a short pause "No, that's not possible, there were safeguards in place, to incapacitate him if he ever left the facility".
"It is him, Mother, please, believe me, I talked to him myself look into my mind and you will see", Marcus prepared himself for the pain that was soon to come. But nothing, the pressure was almost gone and a less invasive pulsing in his head could be felt. The memories of his recent conversations with Jericho rose to the top of his mind.
Was this Olsen reading his memories? Usually, it hurt immensely, like someone was crushing your brain to make the memories pour out, like juice from an orange. But this was so calm and serene, could she always do it this way? Why did she make it so painful normally?
"You forget yourself Marcus" realising these thoughts could also be heard by Olsen he stopped and apologised. "Sorry Mother, but do you see?"
"I do, this does complicate things, how should I proceed I wonder?"
"If I may Mother, I could keep them distracted, you could send more fighters to help pacify Subject 24, so we can separate him from the woman. Something is up with him I haven't seen him use his abilities, nor has he been using his Release while walking around in the dark. He is also using a gun as protection. I believe he is in a weakened state and if we use enough force, we can overpower him. He is also protective of the woman, taking her as a hostage could also cause him to hesitate”.
There was another pause, "Excellent observations Marcus, I'll find the closest followers and have them to you, I will be piloting them myself. I will not accept failure in this Marcus, an opportunity like this will not come around again do you understand?"
"Yes Mother, of course," Marcus paused for a second and hesitantly asked. "Mother do you think it would be possible that I could have Subject 24's body?".
"What? Why would you ask that of me? Don't you like the body I gifted you with?" The pressure in Marcus' head greatly increased double what he understood to be normal.
"No, No Mother I didn't mean to sound ungrateful, it's just his body is so much more powerful, I thought I could better serve you in a body like that".
After a few seconds Olsen replied, "I will consider it, however, it is not a priority, do you understand?"
Overjoyed Marcus had to contain his excitement, no more of this horridly misshapen body, finally something that resembles normality was within his grasp. "Yes, Mother thank you."
"Good, now how far away are you from the medical storage unit?" releasing her grip on Marcus's mind so he could speak more clearly.
"We are almost there, maybe 20 minutes or so."
"Very good, Golem is already there and I will find any subjects nearby and have them head towards you, be ready." The pressure receded as Marcus noticed Jericho and Lilith were trying to talk to him.
"Are you ok?" Lilith's voice rang out.
Noticing he would have just been walking ahead absent-minded, Marcus was struggling to think of a decent excuse "I... I..." Jericho cut in before he could form a sentence.
"I know what's happening." With a serious look on his face.
Marcus's heart now pounding in his chest he didn't know what to do next. Had he been found out, after all his behaviour had been odd and if Jericho knows about Olsen, then he knows she can communicate telepathically.
"Your mind is fading, right? I've seen it in... " Jericho glanced at Lilith and corrected himself "others, you feel like your mind isn't suited for your body, you're having these dark spots where you just go blank right?"
"What no I..." What was he talking about Marcus hadn't experienced anything like that, had he? Not that it mattered in any case this was a way out.
"Yes, it only happens rarely, I'm fine don't worry about me," Marcus said regaining his composure.
"What? What are you talking about?" Lilith cut in.
"Oh, it's a side effect I've seen in people that have been... Experimented on" Jericho looked at Marcus trying to find the words.
"You don't think I wear this costume for fun, do you?" Marcus gestured to himself.
Wide-eyed like she was finally seeing things clearly "that's not a costume, is it?"
Jericho quickly snapped his head to look at Marcus trying to will him to lie, "No it's not" Marcus muttered weakly.
This was it; Jericho didn't know what would happen next, how Lilith would handle this? Shockingly she simply said, "I see, I'm so sorry this was done to you".
A little shocked Marcus seemed to blush maybe? At least he acted embarrassed he wasn't expecting pity from someone he was about to throw to the wolves.
"Right, yes... Thank you. We should keep moving". Marcus turned and walked away from the two.
"You aren't a commander are you Jericho?" Lilith said softly not looking at Jericho just staring at Marcus as he walked away.
"I'm not sorry" there was no point lying it was plain to see something had changed.
"I thought you were too casual to be in the army. What do we do from here? Can I even trust you?"
"I'm not going anywhere; I promise you that." Mustering as much confidence as he could in his voice. "For now, there's nothing we can do but follow him".
"Right, but once we are out of here, promise me you will tell me everything" tears started to well up although Lilith didn't know why.
"Of course, although I hope you have time, it's a long story" placing his hand on her shoulder and squeezing softly.
Finally looking him in the eye Lilith summoned a small smile "I think I have all the time in the world for it."
The two then hurried off chasing the giant rat further down the decrepit rabbit hole that was the halls of the Helix Towers.