The New Experiment
Kyle decided to retire early that evening; even though Declan, Josh, and Andy were all over and having major wars on the Xbox in the den. Having them all over made Kyle think of Amanda. He let out a sight and leaned back in his tub. "Wallowing," echoed her voice in his mind.
"Do you want to know more?" said a different voice in his head; it was 174.
"How are you doing this?"
"If you wanted to stop me, you could." She said without remorse. "Would you like to know more?" she asked again.
"Yes." Bright light flashed into his vision. He couldn't move, no, she couldn't move; Kyle had taken the place of 174 inside her memory. Several people wearing lab coats stood all around him. With his elevated hearing he could sense thousands of units of lab equipment around him. His sight was so clear, he could see every hair on the doctor's face above him. The doctor took a small light and shown it into his eyes. Kyle tried to blink, but an assistant held his eyes open.
"Looks like her eyes are becoming more predator-like again, but other than that I don't see any other reason to discontinue the next stage."
"I want some more blood-work done." Said someone out of Kyle's view. "Go ahead and sedate her." Kyle felt a needle pierce his skin, and an uncontrollable wave of anger rushed over him. Slowly he felt himself come back to his mind.
"What's the next stage?"
"I don't know." She replied quietly.
"Kyle?" said another voice. Kyle shot up into a sitting position. "Are you alright?" said Declan looking worried. "You were mumbling in your sleep."
"I was having a dream." Lied Kyle nervously.
"I can tell when you're lying." Declan stated bluntly.
"I'm not sure I should involve you." He said wanting to converse with Jessi first. "It could endanger you."
"Just being your friend endangers me." Argued Declan. Kyle was about to retort but Lori walked in looking for Declan. They dropped into an uncomfortable silence.
"What is it?" said Lori sighing. "C'mon! I know you two are up to something. You're together, alone, in Kyle's room."
"What's going on?" said Jessi in the doorway behind Lori.
"It's our friend." Said Kyle
"What friend?" asked Declan.
"The one we met in the park." Said Jessi acting like he knew what she was talking about.
"She's like us." Said Kyle getting up and shutting the door.
"What? Kyle, I thought you said that you two were the only ones!" Said Lori incredulously.
"So did we, but evidently not." Said Kyle. "Latnok is looking for her right now."
"Well, if she's like you I think that she will be able to take care of herself." Lori said.
"Not if they're using snipers." Said Declan matter-of-factly.
"We can't disobey Foss." Said Kyle looking at Jessi.
"Who cares what Foss says!" said Declan. "It should be your call; she's like your own family."
"I didn't know you cared so much." Said Lori sarcastically.
"Ouch!" said Kyle grabbing his arm.
"What's wrong?" asked Jessi walking over to him.
"She's been talking to me." He said moving his hand from his arm half-expecting a wound of some sort.
"How? With your mind, like telepathy or something?" Declan asked.
"Yes."
"What did she say?" asked Jessi urgently.
"Nothing, she showed me memories from her experiences of Latnok. They were doing tests on her."
"Why don't you ask her to come here?" said Jessi.
"I could try, but I don't think she'll come." Kyle concentrated for a moment, and then reached out with his mind. "174? Where are you and what's going on?"
"Nothing" came her irritated answer. A slight whir of fear touched him as well the pain in his arm.
"Please come to my home. We can protect you from Latnok."
"No."
"You must." He said being firm, but she did not reply. "She's blocked me." Said Kyle to the others. "I think something has happened to her, my arm kept hurting while I talked to her."
"We have to get her." Said Jessi remembering what it was like when she escaped Zyzzx.
"Let's go." Said Kyle giving in. Kyle moved forward then thought of something. "Lori, Declan, you have to stay here. I don't want Josh and Andy to be involved."
"No way dude."
"It's either that or we're not going." Kyle commanded. Declan sighed with disgust.
"Fine."
They all walked back into the den to find Josh and Andy having a major make-out session. Lori tried to stifle a laugh as Kyle and Jessi snuck out the front door.
"ew Josh, on the couch, in plain sight?" asked Lori.
"Oh! Hey guys!" Said Josh surprised.
Kyle and Jessi walked down the steps looking and listening for any signs of Latnok spies, snipers, etc. When they turned toward the street they were surprised. Standing in a shadow on the street was 174. If Kyle and Jessi were normal they would have never saw her, but sonar hearing helped them.
"You said you weren't going to come." Kyle said to her.
"I was afraid." She said standing still.
"What happened to your arm?" asked Jessi out loud. She was first to notice the tear that was bleeding on 174's arm.
"Distraction." Said 174 smiling strangely in contrast to the situation.
"Let's get inside." Suggested Kyle who was getting more nervous by the second. 174 was a little hesitant, but she slowly followed them inside. When they entered the house 174 looked extremely out of place; her long hair, dingy T-dress, bare feet, and bloody wound did not help. Declan walked into the hall and jumped at their sight.
"That was fast." Said Declan staring at the strange girl. She eyed him coolly and made a displeased face.
"This is 174," Introduced Kyle. "and this is Declan." She unrelentingly starred at him until he looked away. Suddenly the phone rang. 174, who had never heard a phone before, jumped so far that she hit the wall, and dented it. Nicole, who was in the kitchen, ran to see what the commotion was. She and 174 locked gazes; Nicole automatically knew that she was different; this was going to be fun to explain.