What Lovely Specimens. PLOT

[Admin]

Well, Niplik had all he was likely to get from the delirious child. Smiling, he snatched his glasses from the air and adjusted them back on his face.

"Telekinesis," he marveled. His smile threatened to snap his face in two. Chuckling, he adjusted the lens, blinking as he looked through them. That struck him as being far more useful then the girl's little emotional trick. Maybe different sexes received different abilities?

Niplik patted Garion's shoulder. "Thank you, t-t-t-that w-w-w-will be enough f-f-f-for now. R-r-r-rest up. The t-t-t-tests will b-b-b-begin soon."

with that Niplik headed for the door.


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"I don't have to completely unravel it," admitted the Director, looking at the monitor. "I just have to duplicate it. Figure out just enough to try it on others. You'd be surprised how willing people can be when you promise them incredible powers."

He chuckled, looking back over at Locke. Did the boy even understand the power he possessed?

"Would you believe that we've already found ways of crudely imitating the girl's power? It was remarkable easily, really," he spread his arms wide. "You know, you could always agree to work with us. It could be better then that school..."

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke was losing his patience with this 'man'.

"I suppose it's rather easy if you are an amoral sociopath." Locke said, glaring at the director. "Unfortunately some of us hold on to that troublesome little pest called humanity. I wonder if you even know what you are getting into? No, you couldn't possibly have any idea."

The idea of this man finding himself face to face with a dragon, or with Rae, put a grin on Locke's face.

"Sometimes being in the dark is in your best interest. You might wish you still had your covers to hide under once you see the light of day."

Locke looked around the room, they really did have the means to do some nasty things, and he was still scared, as much as he wouldn't admit it.

But this man, he perverted science. It was supposed to be used to make peoples lives better, not rip them apart for the sake of yourself. Sure people like that existed, but people who abused knowledge were, to Locke, worse then those who didn't have it.

"So I suppose what I am saying, is you can take your offer...and shove it."

He turned at the man, now attempting a bluff.

"Do you know that the average human bone turns to the consistency of dried clay when you apply a frequency of approximately 679 Mega Hertz? It's really fascinating, but I've never had the chance to try it out for myself."

He turned away from the director again.

"I'm done with talking to you now."

[Garion DeLuse]

The narcotic running through Garion's system, while potent, was not very long lasting. Niplik only touched the doorknob when Garion was snapped back to reality with a sickening jolt. He had a pounding headache and felt like throwing up his left kidney. The withdrawl systems also only lasted fr enough time to turn the knob of the door and open it a crack.

Garion saw Niplik start to leave and cried out "Wait!". The door was slammed shut with Garion's force of mind.

"Please... let me go. You have whatever sick information you need, now let me go. Please, I'm begging you. I... I can't stay here. Can't you see I'm just a child?"

[Admin]

"Locke," the Director shook his head, an expression of sadness upon his face. "You simply do not understand, do you? It is our job, nay, duty to go out in the world and uncover the mysteries therein. Mankind must continue to learn and strive throughout the world."

The Director looked at the boy, then shook his head again. The poor child simply did not understand what was at stake here. Why didn't one of these captive children ever want to help them? One would think that there would be a coward somewhere in the school; someone who didn't have a spine.

"You call me amoral," the Director chuckled. "Were you hoping that would strike home? Mr. Herald, morals are something to be discarded. A needless convention placed upon humanity by society. Truly, it should be our goal to surmount the hurdles placed in our way."

He took a couple of steps closer, the smile sliding off his face. "My boy, you will work for us, eventually. I could stand here and torture you. Prod you with needles, jab you with probes. Your entire body is here for my study, Locke. If I so choose, I could rip open your guts and examine them."

He arched his brows. "In fact, we could even keep you awake while we did it. To see just how you would react to such a situation. More knowledge for us."

His brows lowered, and his eyes flashed dangerously. "But I prefer to make things easier. You see, there's someone you want to protect. There's always someone. For Kara it was someone named Eiji. For you..."

He smiled again, "I'd wager there's a girl somewhere, isn't there, Locke? A bubbly little blonde, perhaps?"

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"It doesn't matter whether you're a child," answered Niplik. He'd paused by the door, looking over his shoulder at the bound child. It was much easier to speak with the boy when he didn't have to face him. Didn't have to see that small body strapped there to the table, writing as drugs pumped through him.

"You're ours now. I d-d-d-don't," Niplik swallowed, shaking his head, "just g-g-get over it, kid."

The scientist opened the door, paused to look over at Locke, shook his head, and left.

[Locke F. Herald]

It's just idle threats, he doesn't know anything. He's just guessing, blond is a common enough hair color. He's just guessing, he doesn't know, he couldn't know.

"T-Think what you like!" Locke practically shouted at the old man. "I'm not against you to protect anyone else, I just hate you for perverting science!" He snarled. "You can threaten me all you like, but I did some deduction of my own. You want to scare me into helping you, you could care less about the DNA, because that's worthless if I help you break it down and understand it. Information from someone whose been there is much more effective then anything you could do with any needles."

He was scared, he'd admit it. He was fairly certain that the director would go through on his word. But Locke would make sure if he decided to it'd be the last thing he'd do.

Last thing he'd do? Could he do that? Did Locke have the courage to...kill for his own life?

"I've been alone before, I'm alone now. Everything begins and ends in this room, you don't scare me." Locke spared a glance to the side. The door was electronic, perfect. He could seal it, for probably a while. Through the shattered lights, and the computer systems here, he might be able to generate enough.

This man was evil, and he threatened to hurt Kiri. How he knew about her, Locke didn't know but...the idea of it. Locke imagined the scene the director painted for him, strapped to a table, the knives and needles, feeling every cut, every prick, every draw of blood. Being ripped apart from the inside out. It was during that vision that he realized something odd, the bangs of hair that fell across his eyes, they weren't blue like his was.

No, the person lying on that table had blond hair.

Locke's pupil's dilated. He couldn't think anymore, his brain was overloaded with hatred. He would do it, Locke knew he would if given the chance. He would rip her apart for his desire...he would torture her...he would-

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Locke shouted, as if snapping out of a dream. In that instant every electrical device in the room broke open, the collection of lighting whirling about the room as a maelstrom. Scraps of metal were picked up by the electrostatic force and whirled around as dangerous projectiles. Locke tried to focus his powers, but he couldn't. There was too much energy in the room, and he was not in a stable mental state.

This was dangerous to all involved, even Locke.

[Garion DeLuse]

Garion couldn't scream, as much as he tried. No sound would escape his dried and cracked lips. His face was one of agony, of sheer terror. His features were unfamiliar, demonlike in his desperation.

Then all at once, his world exploded into pure agony.

His muscles all contracted at once, tightening into bundles of nerves. Garion's eyesight turned red, and his nose started to bleed. The metal constraints screeched as he thrashed about, to be unheard by Garion who could only hear his heart beating.

Behind Garion the monitor that measured the pulse from the convenient position his shackles was going haywire. The line pulsated lightning fast as Garion attempted to break out of his immense physical pain.

Then the line fell flat.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

Garion's body fell flat at the table.

[matt]

(If you don't want me to post, say so, and I'll delete this.)

Matt glared at the man who called himself "Doctor." He wasn't going to be trusting a mysterious and creepy stranger who had possibly kidnapped him any time soon. Somehow, he had to find the other girl, see if anyone else got caught, and get the heck outta there. But how?

For once, he found himself wishing that he didn't have pyrokinesis as a gift. Super strength, to take down the door, and take out the people, would have been more useful in his situation. Super speed, so he could run through the doors before he was left trapped would be excellent as well. Mind control, to make the bad guys let them go, or the ability to walk through things, so they couldn't keep him hostage.

But what could he do with his power? Set the doctor's face on fire? He didn't even know how to make the stupid gift work!

Agh! Who gets kidnapped during their first week of school? Maybe I'm just dreaming?

He squinted his eyes at Dr. Marshall, willing him to turn into a singing hippo.

That didn't work. Is this really happening?

He knew better than to refuse to answer the doctor's questions - who knew what could happen then? - but took his time nonetheless. He was too scared to form an answer right away. That, and he had to come up with a fake name.

"My name is Adam." Matt lied, staring at the doctor's adam's apple. The first thing he saw was what he used as his alias. "Adam Hall. I was wandering around the school and found this big training area, so I went to check it out, and some guys came and asked me about who the strongest person is or something, and I said 'I don't know, I don't even know what this room is for!' And so they asked my friend, and she was giving them a hard time so they stabbed her with a needle, and that's all I remember."

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"The school, I see." Marshall responded. How interesting. "And many people in your school have these powers, yes? Hmm yes yes, that would be interesting indeed. Do you know what kind of powers there are, a few examples maybe? If you help us, I see no reason for us to be hostile to each other. Like any man of science I just want to understand, surely there can be no harm in that, correct?"

He looked over 'Adam'. When Matt Ambrose noticed that he was missing his wallet he might reconsider lying about his identity, but until that point in time Marshall really could care less about whatever name he used. It was merely for convenience anyway.

"And what is it that you can do Adam?" He asked curiously.

[matt]

Matt knew a few of the gifts that one could have, mostly from watching them do ordinary things in extraordinary ways. There was a young girl who sped into class so fast he could hardly see her, just to avoid being late. There was a boy who flew up a flight of stairs, and a girl who levitated her pencil off the floor. But could he tell this man that? If he knew there were many students, with many interesting gifts, wouldn't he want to unrightfully take more?

I can't do that. He decided. He wasn't about to put other students in danger. There were people even younger and newer to the gifted world than he was, and no one deserved to be taken and questioned by shady men who just felt like it.

"I don't know. I just got to the school a few days ago." He told Marshall, and it was half-true. "Some guy brought me there and just left. No one told me anything!" He tried to look agitated and annoyed at his cluelessness, which came easily to him. Being kidnapped and interrogated didn't sit well with him. But he probably wasn't the only one there, so he had to keep it together.

He didn't especially want the doctor knowing what his gift was, because if he found out he couldn't control it...well, he'd seen plenty of movies like this, and they didn't always let those types go. So, he'd have to pick something else, something that would be very hard for them to test.

"U-uh, my gift is um...h-h-h-hypnotic, uh, beauty?" The young Cavan nearly choked on the word, red-faced with embarrassment. As terrible as it was claiming pheromone production as his gift, they'd have a heck of a time testing it.

I can't believe I just said that. My gift is I'm really pretty?

Hopefully, he'd never have to explain to anyone how he tried passing that off as his gift.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Marshall sighed. "Tell me Matthew, has anyone ever told you that you are a very bad liar? It's quite bothersome. I mean, you are lucky to have me, I'd rather leave you stewing in here and come back when you have a good sense of hopelessness, then you'd be more willing to speak the truth. There are some people here who would torture you for such a slight, and for such a silly thing. What a waste. Come to think of it..."

He flipped through his clipboard, which didn't have any useful information on it. "Oh my, I do hope Morgan isn't as stubborn as you. That was her name by the way, Morgan Cavan. Perhaps I should go make sure that he isn't being too rough with her. I mean we need some good information before we let you sleep for tonight. I frankly don't care where it comes from. I'll be back if you feel like talking." He said, making for the door.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

A wisp of fog flew through the sky, unnoticed by the people on the ground below. It then arched down like a ball and flew towards a small vent in the side of a building. It entered the vent and moved past a large fan, vanishing from sight.

Following the wind past that fan would be a very unwise move for the fragile fae, but at least they had found the building in question. If, in fact, they had arrived at the right place.

[Admin]

A normal person would have been terrified by Locke's display of power. But the Director was hardly what you'd call "normal."

He laughed as the boy's electric powers arched throughout the room. Of course, he still moved behind a monitor, and even then the small explosion from the device rained computer parts on him. A burning smell wafted through the air, accompanying the ozone odor left by Locke's super charge.

Eventually, the raging storm had to stop. When it did, the Director slowly rose to his feet, smiling. Blood dribbled off his face from dozens of cuts. Bits of glass were visible in his skin. Yet still, he smiled, and chuckled.

"Overplayed your hand there," he murmured, shaking his head. The loss of power would be unfortunate, might even ruin a few experiments. But it wasn't long before the lights flickered back, power restored. Back up generators were responsible, of course.

"Now we know your special little tricks," drawled the Director, pulling a shard from his face. He chuckled again, tossing the bloody piece to the ground. "It's easy to stop electricity when you're expecting it. Game over, Herald."

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Niplik had already left the room when Garion flatlined. There was, in fact, no one around the hear the sound. The mournful keen echoed for a while, before being reset by the electrical surge from Locke's storm.

Someone did hurry to check, a familiar female scientist. She cursed as she hovered over the body, double-checking it. What had that idiot Niplik done to the boy?

[morg]

It was very hard to lay there, unmoving, when you could hear so much around you. The sudden powering up and powering down of the machines. And the screams.... Morgan could hear the screams.

Still, she fought to keep her breath level, her mind calm, her pulse low. Morgan didn't know how long she could fake it, before they finally just prodded her anyway. But she was going to buy as much time as possible.

She fidgeted slightly, brushing a finger against her restraints. They weren't that great, really. Probably because she looked like just a normal teenage girl. Sure, they might suspect that she had some special talent, but she hadn't shown them anything. If push came to shove, she'd just lie to them. Easy enough, with her freakish memory.

Of course, she still need an opportunity... what was going on out there anyway?

Morgan dared peek open one eye, attempting to scan the room through the small slit...

[matt]

Matt looked alarmed when Marshall revealed that he knew their names, and, unfortunately, by the time he realized his mistake, it was too late. The hint of torture did nothing to calm his nerves, and he shuddered. He could try to stay strong, but eventually...he was just a confused twelve-year-old boy.

"Hey, no! Come back! I'm not lying!" He shouted to the retreating man, dashing after him, trying to get to the door before it closed. "That really is my gift! I didn't pick it, okay?! You think if I could pick I'd want a girly power?!" They knew his name, but they couldn't possibly know what his gift was, and as long as they didn't, he had leverage. They had no proof that he lied about his gift; although it pheromone production seemed to be more common in women, it occurred in men all the same.

"No, wait! Leave her alone!"

That guy could be just trying to psyche me out. Maybe he really does wanna help her, but...

He couldn't stand the idea of other people in pain, especially girls. Girls were so great...why would anyone ever want to hurt them? If they were rough on her because they didn't like his answers...

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke was exhausted. Even though he wasn't controlling it, that much power had taken a lot out of him. And the man was still standing, and he was right. Locke had tipped his hand, and the man wouldn't be caught off guard like that if he got away.

If.

So that's what it comes down to? His life for my freedom? His life for my sanity? His life...for her safety?

"Maybe you're right..." Locke panted. "Maybe I did...overplay my hand..." He was so tired, but he knew if he fell asleep that was it, it really was game over.

"But I'm not ready to fold quite yet!" He said, grabbing shards of glass from the floor and throwing them with surprising skill and accuracy. Of course, Locke didn't know how he was doing it, his body remembered what he had seen in one of his trips to the training room. And the shards of glass cut through the air like spinning shurikens. In his frantic grasp for weapons Locke felt his hand grab a cord, he went to discard it when he noticed it was completely severed from it's machine. A free standing electrical cord...

"Ya might be better suited fer a weapon with a bit o distance, that an somthing that needs a fine hand."

He paused for a moment as his fingers tightened around the cord.

A whip?