Therefore I am

Disclaimer: I have nothing to say that I own those four butt kicking humanoid turtles. I just like to borrow them to torture now and again smirks

Chapter Six - Test

Ramiela:

I wasn't very hungry, I didn't know if waking up to find myself locked up, my whole present situation really, had been more then enough to make me feel sick to my stomach, and not much like wanting anything. Still, I managed to eat some of the fruit that had been offered and I totally ignored the salad, it hardly looked like it was worth sampling. I lifted the bowl of water to my mouth to drink. After finishing as much as I felt I could handle I looked around the cage.

It seemed so barren and cold. Maybe, if I cleaned the place up a little. I stacked some papers up in one corner to become my facility, the place for refuse. I shredded some other papers and kept them close for cleaning myself with, but where they weren't bound to get mixed in with my other stuff. I wrinkled my muzzle with distaste, still rather appalled at what these people expected me to do. I guessed I best get used to not having any privacy though, awkward and degrading as it might be.

I used the rest of the paper, to make a suitable mattress from the cold hard floor, and the thin blanket to cover myself with. I laid down after getting things in order, pulling the blanket about me, though it didn't provide much for warmth, and waited for sleep to come, but it eluded me. Perhaps, I was too upset for sleep to come. I was scared and I wanted to be home so bad. I wanted to hear dad yelling at me, and uncle Raph tellin' him to lay off.

I found myself crying and wiping at my eyes on the blanket. I spent most of that long night awake, dreading the morning, and at the same time wishing it would come and get it over with. I doubted my own choices but I could see no way around it, I still felt my best line of defense was to cooperate. I did manage to sleep a little but was bothered by dreams where, scientist did terrible things to me. The hours and the minutes seeming to last an eternity.

It was the longest night I ever spent.

Finally, in frustration I sat up and did some exercises a few sit ups, and push ups, followed by running on the spot. Feeling oddly, comforted by this I did a few slow motion katas and those helped me relax further. I sank into the lotus position in hopes of meditating, but my mind refused to empty. I was not at peace with my surroundings, and was far too agitated to really, clear my mind.

I sighed, as I sat on my bed, such as it was. I longed for something to read, to pass the time, or wished for just a little music to listen to if only to distract me. I could sing for myself, but had no desire to sing, so instead I began to consider what it is I should say when I got a chance to talk with the scientist.

The seconds seemed like hours and the hours like years, time seemed to stop, hanging in limbo but, finally the scientist started to arrive, and by the time they did start to come in I was almost thankful to see my captors, because here was something to ease the boredom and loneliness of the long night.

David Peterson was the first to arrive, he smiled at me " Awake and ready to go are you?" He inquired, he glanced into the dishes in my cell, and picked up a clipboard writing down something " Will get you some breakfast in a bit specimen A-23." He informed me.

" Fine, mind if I place my order now? Eggs sunny side up, two slices of toast with jam, a bit of fruit an some juice, please Mr. Peterson." I smiled at him, " By the way, my name is Ramiela."

I had to hand it to him he showed no sign, at least not outwardly that he was surprised that I could talk, didn't even seem all that phased by my order of breakfast. I shrugged and decided to continue when he showed no sign of acknowledging what I had said to him. " I do know how to use utensils. I'm not totally ignorant" I declared.

He scribbled something more on the clipboard. Not even looking at me.

" So where am I, and what do you plan on doing to me?" I wondered, thinking that he was a hell of a conversationalist.

He didn't respond to me, just acted like he hadn't heard me, or maybe like I didn't deserve an answer for my troubles. I scowled and heaved a sigh, getting up I slowly stretched then gathered the bowls from the previous night and pushed them out the flap in the door.

I figured since he was interested in writing things down, I may as well give him some more stuff to write. I glanced up as two other scientist entered the lab Steven looked their way and smiled, " Susan, why don't you go get some breakfast ready for our specimen, while Carl and I go prepare for some of the tests we need to run this morning." He suggested, quickly the three of them left the main room, one of them towards a door to the kitchen. David and Carl down the hall.

I was alone but not for long, a tall husky built fellow entered the lab and he was packing a couple of boxes of doughnuts, the fresh yeasty smell of these treats made my stomach literally rumble, and I licked my lips in anticipation.

I put on my best pleading look and asked hopefully, " Could I have one, please?"

He looked my way and smiled.

Feeling, I had at least made a connection I pushed onward, " I love doughnuts, got any Bavarian cream, or honey dipped?" I wondered.

" So, it can speak. Imagine that." He muttered shaking his head as he sat the boxes down on a desk and came closer to the cage.

I growled a little, " I'm not an it," I corrected him, " I'm a female, and my name is Ramiela and you are." I paused, glancing at the name tag " Mr. Larsen."

"Incredible!" He gasped, " I can see why David is so interested in you."

Before we could continue Susan emerged from the kitchen carrying two bowls which she pushed into the cage. I looked up hopefully and saw that it was fruit and a bowl of water.

" No tip for you, the service here is rotten. It isn't what I ordered at all." I grouched, I turned to Larsen, "See, now you really have to bail me out. get me one of those doughnuts I promise I won't tell." I pleaded.

He chuckled, " The Specimen has quite the linguistic skills it seemed. Probably picked up from television or other places. Still, it is remarkable."

Susan smiled, " Careful, David wouldn't want us prejudicing our research. For all we know it is mere mimicry." She warned her co worker before turning to fetch herself one of the treats from the box.

I looked from the bowl of fruit towards the boxes of doughnuts. People could be trained, they weren't totally impossible. Most of my Aunts had to learn a whole new life style when they married into the family after all. I knew people could learn and chance their minds. But I couldn't understand why the people who talked about keeping an open mind tended to have theirs pretty closed off, as was the case here. I sighed, my mission seemed daunting.

The last two female scientist arrived while I was having my fruit, and listening to the morning conversation of the scientist as they drank coffee, tea and other morning beverages while munching on the doughnuts. They broke up and began to work on computers at their desks the hum of their voices mingling, the air was filled with excitement.

I however was filled with dread. Nibbling on the fruit and longing for some sweet goodness to take the bitterness from my mouth.

David Peterson stepped into the centre of the activity and called for his employees attention. " First off this morning I want to get various samples of skin, hair, blood, urine and so on for testing. I want to see what we can learn from DNA and anything else along that line. I'm also wanting full x-ray, CAT scan, EEG, heart, pulse, blood pressure. Basically, the whole nine yards, we'll see how far these take us and break for lunch."

WOW! And I thought my day was packed at home, I mused to myself, with school work and ninjitsu training, but it seemed that I'd be kept even busier here. Luckily, a lot of what he mentioned I had actually understood, so I had a fair idea of what I was going be put through. None of it seemed all that bad. At least not that which I understood. So, I was able to relax to some small degree.

David pointed to Mr. Larsen and one other girl, " Linda, Jerry why don't you bring A-23 to the exam room so we can get started. Carl stay here to assist them if necessary, I don't want to tranquilizer it as it might throw off some of the tests we need to do this morning." he ordered.

I didn't know if they wanted me near the door so I stayed back in a corner near the foot, of my bed. A part of me had to wonder how they were going move me from room to room, they were trained scientist, but the way they handled things so far, I had to wonder just what it was they might feel was the best course of action, leash and collar, muzzle? I didn't see any smaller cage or anything on wheels that they could force me either on or into, to take me that way. I arched an eye ridge and smirked as I decided it might be fun to watch what they came up with.

The other scientist went off down the hall to do last minute preparation.

" How are we suppose to do this?" Jerry asked.

" I don't know it is a turtle, do you think it has the capacity to carry out basic commands? Maybe, we can lure it somehow." Linda replied, she had dark hair done in a ponytail, had blue eyes, and her name tag said that her name was L. Sheilds. She was about average height, but slightly overweight, and there were lines on her face.

" Sure, a trail of doughnuts will work." I agreed, I smacked my lips, " that I would follow anywhere." I teased, hoping that maybe, by putting a good face forward I could make friends somehow. I know it was sort of like dad, cracking jokes at the worst possible moments, and usually the worst groaners of them all. In reality though I was scared, and was searching for comfortable ground in an unfamiliar situation. I wanted to ease the tension, anxiety and most of all that big metal ball in the pit of my stomach.

Jerry shrugged, " Let's just try taking it by the arm and leading it."

So, that was how I was removed from my cell, down the small hallway to another room. This room looked like a surgical hospital, or at least how one might look. It smelled of disinfectant, there was a metal gurney waiting, and on a metal table were all sorts of strange tools, not to mention machines in there. I trembled and tried to back up, suddenly feeling intimidated, in spite of what I heard. I gulped and felt my legs fold under me.

" Was the specimen any trouble?" David inquired, behind his face mask.

" Nope, very compliant" Susan answered as they half dragged and pulled me closer.

David nodded his head, " Good to hear, chelonians aren't naturally aggressive. Let's get it on the table."

That was easy for him to say, David had never met a ninja turtle, especially my Uncle Raphael. I closed my eye reminding myself I couldn't escape even if I did manage to break free. As for the second part of his statement I figured, I'd show them they weren't dealing with a complete idiot with, a fluid twist and pull of the arm I managed to get free of the people holding me. " You want me on the table?" I asked, " All right. I do understand everything you are all saying." I remarked a bit in a huff, I could have also added that I was smart enough to follow commands too.

I went and sat down on the table just to prove my point, " See, not that hard. Just ask okay?" I instruct them, " or would you prefer I was lying down." I stated as I did so.

Immediatley two of the scientist forced my legs apart an strapped them down, then they strapped my arms to my side and down to the table before I even had time to relax, I struggled against the sudden bonds, this was the last thing I had expected, especially as I was going along with them. Another scientist injected something into me and it seemed to make things relax a bit. Wait a second, I thought they didn't want to use and tranqs. I thought.

Whatever they gave me seemed to numb my limbs making it almost impossible to move them, no matter how much I wanted to. I really didn't want to be tied down like this.

That was when all the tests started, the poking, prodding, measuring, collecting samples of hair, fingernails, skin, saliva, x-rays and a slew of other machines hooked up and connected to me. Hands all over touching me forcing my mouth open, prodding my eyes open, obtaining any and all imaginable samples possible from me.

It was degrading, humiliating and I hated it all!

Not one of them bothered to talk to me about the test or what it is they wanted, or expected. They just took without any consideration, and I couldn't even fight them on it, and I was starting to want to, badly. I trembled with pent up rage and frustration. I had cooperated with them, and this is how they returned the favor.

They even put a small camera up my tail that would send back pictures of my insides, the reproductive organs, and other things down within the lower regions of that area. It was invasive and nothing short of rape as far as I was concerned.

Finally, they loosened the straps, giving me some hope that the tests were almost over, but that was when they placed round things on my head, they were attached to a machine, and I guessed probably did some sort of brain wave test or brain scan of some kind or other.

I whimpered, a little listening as the scientist rattled off numbers and things that I couldn't begin to understand, and I failed to see any humor in the situation I was in. I just felt used and degraded. I just stayed where I was as they finally concluded by checking my heart and pulse rate. The numbers they called out were higher then normal for me, and I knew it was due to me feeling stressed out.

I just felt drained when the scientist forced me off the table and shoved me towards another room, this one a bit smaller then the one with all the medical stuff in it. The newer room was full of exercise equipment as if it were a training room of sorts, there was a treadmill, stairclimbers, exercise bike, a weight bench and a few other things that I didn't recognize. I was placed on the treadmill and started off at a slow walk, that was slowly increased to a jog and then an all out run.

I didn't mind being made to run on the treadmill, it felt familiar and somehow it felt comfortable, relaxing. I could feel the tension ease as my feet fell into the up and down rhythm. They kept me going until I was sweating and getting out of breath, before they slowly dropped the speed down and finally needed the session by taking me back to my cage.

I could tell my cage had been cleaned, and I was almost grateful to see it. I had been through so much this morning, that I would almost welcome the peace and quiet of being left alone behind those metal bars. I rushed to the back of my cage, hardly hearing the scientist discussing going to some cafeteria for lunch.

I sank to the floor of the cage, pillowing my head in my hands, as I wondered how I could ever prove to these scientist that I was an intelligent being, when they only wanted to deal in facts and figures. How was I to communicate with someone who insisted I was nothing more then an animal. I shook my head in disgust, it was a lost cause, and I could feel a certain feeling of dread and fear rise up even more inside of me as I realized that.

The scientist were too blind to see, to deaf to hear and far too focused only on one thing. Learning something while remaining ignorant of what was right in front of them. They could learn nothing while they refused to admit that I was intelligent.

TBC