Warping
Jesselle was not fooled. She tried to keep track of the twist and turns but the facility as so utterly uniform it was hard to be sure. The troops carrying her did not slow. They did not stop. Hatches opened for them and closed behind them as they led her under her bare feet were aching. But then... they stopped at one door and when it had opened, they had shoved her in. Before she could cpmpletely turn, it slammed shut and it locked before her stunned eyes.
"Have you come to play with us?" A totally unexpected voice sounded from behind her. Jesselle turned and froze. The boy looked... normal. He was human, perhaps five years old. No more than that. He was not Grineer. Too small for one thing. No prosthesis, no visible cellular degradation for another. He wore a shirt and some kind of loose pants, both well manufactured. His shoes as well were well made. He smiled at her dumbfounded expression. "Or did the nasty doc just send you here with no word at all?"
"Who are you?" Jesselle said sharply. This was... not what she had expected.
"I am N-1." The boy replied evenly. "You... Oh..." He said with a frown. "He sent you to be tested, didn't he?" Jesselle did not move and the boy sighed. Said sigh was far, far older than he looked. "You look tired." There was no mental push, no command. Just the words. But Jesselle felt the fatigue that she had been fighting start to rise. "Come on." The boy said with a small sad smile. "No one will hurt you here. No one will dare." He held out a hand to her and she reached out to take it slowly.
As soon as she touched it, darkness roared up and grabbed her, dragging her down to oblivion. But... it was gentle.
Jesselle roused, aware she was floating in something. But she was not afraid.
"Woman hurt?" The voice was young, female, scared.
Jesselle was floating in something as small hands washed her. She was... it was...
"No, C-1. Just very tired." This voice was the N-1 boy. "Easy, Ma'am..." He crooned as Jesselle tried to wake up fully. "Easy. Just sleep. It's okay. You are okay."
"No she is not." A sour voice came from the side. Another boy. Angry.
"Don't scare her, K-1." N-1 said sharply. "She is hurt, scared and weak. They will test her. We have to relax her and let her recuperate or the tests will kill her."
"Death would be preferable to this." K-1 replied with a snap. "This... insane prison."
"N-1..." Jesselle managed to croak. "How...many...of you...?"
"Easy." N-1 said as a small hand rubbed her brow. "There are twelve of us."
"Oh...dear..." Jesselle said weakly as consciousness fled.
Twelve... Jesselle said into the silence in her mind. We assumed five. Six at most. Twelve? How can we... what can we...? There was no response. Curtis...please... Talk to me...
Jesselle... Curtis' voice was wary now. You are being monitored. I cannot talk much. I will come when I can. We can handle them. But you need to explain. Get them ready. Be wary, Jesselle. They are small, but they are dangerous.
Who are you? N-1's voice was angry. Our place. Go away!
She is my friend. Curtis' voice was sad and sick now. They hurt her. She needs help and I cannot. Can you?
She is nice. N-1 said, calming a bit. We will help her.
Thank you. With that, Curtis' voice vanished.
He...friend? N-1 asked Jesselle who was reeling.
Yes. Jesselle said weakly. He is a friend.
We help you. N-1 said with a sigh as something caressed Jesselle's mind. She couldn't define it. But it felt good. Sleep now.
"You think she bought it?"
"I don't know. We have to get her ready. If she is not... the testing will kill her and we lose our only chance."
"This is wrong."
"On that we can agree, if nothing else. But now we are committed. Escape or die, we will not aid these clone scum any more than we have. Not after what they did to C-1, M-1 and L-1."
"They are not dead."
"But they are also not there and you know it, K-1."
"Yes, N-1, I know."
Jesselle woke up warm. She was surrounded by warmth. Warmth that breathed. She opened her eyes and the room was fully Grineer, stark and utilitarian. But the bed she lay on... It wasn't a bed. Not really. More a set of bunks that had been moved together and the mattresses combined. She slitted her eyes and looked around. The bodies around her were small. Mostly boys, but a couple of girls. The girls... Jesselle fought a gasp as she saw the shaven heads, the tell tale signs of surgery on the girls.
"Good morning." N-1 said calmly from where he lay beside her. "We kept you warm."
"Thank you." Jesselle said with feeling. "The girls?"
"They... did something to the girls." N-1 said sadly. "C-1, L-1 and M-1 don't... remember much. They don't talk much. They can't."
"Oh." Jesselle gathered one of the girls into her arms and the girl snuggled close in her sleep. None of the kids were older than N-1 and a couple looked even younger. She touched N-1's hand. He was not human. The feel...was not human. Can they listen in if we talk like this? She asked the boy whose eyes went huge.
I do not think so. The boy replied the same way. You... You know...?
My name is Jesselle and I am here to help. Jesselle said quickly. I do not know who you are, I do not know what you are. And frankly? I do not care. You are children in danger. The girls the Grineer took are also in danger, but you... You are far more so. Do they know what you are?
You... can't know... N-1 said weakly. But...
Do they know what you are? Jesselle pressed. It is very important.
No. N-1 said weakly. They woke us, tested us. Now they use us to calm test subjects they want coddled. You... What? He demanded.
It is okay. Jesselle hugged the girl gently and then released her. All of you had no say in what happened. When will they take me?
I am to... tell them... N-1 said softly, sounding ashamed. When you are calm enough.
Do it. Jesselle said firmly as she rose, ignoring the disgruntled cries from the girls, the wary looks from the boys. She moved to the edge of the bed and swung her legs off. She was wearing an odd robe that closed in front. It was warm. N-1 just stared at her. We do not have lot of time. Do it. One of the other boys jumped off the bed, bent down and pulled up a pair of slippers that he slid onto Jesselle's feet.
"Thank you." She said with a smile to the boy who... bowed to her. He looked a lot like N-1. N-1 stared at her and shook his head. She sighed. "I know it is hard to trust. But... I am here to help."
"She... good..." One of the girls leaned close to plant a kiss on Jesselle's cheek. "Go..." She said sleepily.
"Be ready." Jesselle said quietly as N-1 slid off the bed and moved to a panel. "What do I do?" He nodded to the door and Jesselle moved to stand by it.
"Just hold on to your sanity." N-1 said softly as he hit the panel and the door opened to show two Grineer. Jesselle nodded and strode to where they stood. They took her arms and led her off. She tried to ignore the crying behind her that cut off as the door hissed shut.
It was... very unpleasant.
The Grineer did not have all of the high tech that the Corpus took for granted. They made up for it in a number of ways. Sheer ruthlessness counted in many cases. But in this... They were subtle. Or... Subtle for Grineer.
Jesselle had been led to another room where an odd chair sat. She had been placed in it and strapped down. She knew better than to resist when an unarmored female Grineer had cut the robe from her body. They connected IV lines into both arms and both legs. Jesselle could only guess at what was in the bags that were dripping into her body. Probably fluids to keep her from dehydrating as well as whatever drugs the doctor wanted. An odd half helmet had been clamped over her head, it didn't hurt. Nothing did at first.
Then the attendants had started asking questions. She had tried not answering. They had connected wires and shocked her with electricity until she screamed. She had tried to give wrong answers and they had shocked her until she screamed. Then they stopped asking and Jesselle sat, panting.
"For a base, you are stubborn." One of the attendants said as she laid a hand on Jesselle. It was not comforting, that hand. It caressed places that Jesselle wished it wouldn't. Places that made the girl very uncomfortable. "But the doc breaks everybody." Jesselle flinched from the feeling. The touch... The mind behind it was filled with lust. This woman... wanted her. Wanted to hurt her. Wanted to use the girl and then throw her away to show her strength. "He will break you."
"If he breaks me, he doesn't get what he wants." Jesselle said, dredging up resolve from somewhere.
"Oh, he is only interested in the physical oddities." The attendant said with a smile that was malicious in the extreme. "Once we have your brain structure mapped and analyzed, we can break you any way we choose. Rest up, honey. I think you will need it."
"Won't do any good..." Jesselle grunted. "Dunno how or why it happened. No records... Nothing to duplicate.."
"Well..." The attendant smiled widely. "That's the thing. You see... we don't have to duplicate it." Jesselle went still and the attendant nodded. "If it is something that can be cloned, we drop you in a vat and we get a bunch of yous that will actually serve a purpose instead of being stupid human deadweight." She smiled again, a predatory grin. "And if it can't be? You spend a lot of time on your back until you make one who can be cloned." Jesselle stared at her, eyes huge and the attendant laughed coldly. "Rest time is done, base. Time to find out which way you go."
Time... blurred. Twice the attendants woke Jesselle with slaps or cold water. One they gave her a stimulant that had her jerking in her bonds as her blood pressure spiked. They were no longer asking questions. A tube had been run down her throat and she was breathing through it. Other tubes had been run into sore places and Jesselle felt bloated and empty at the same time.
Then it started. An barely audible hum. She jerked again and one of the attendants -they blurred- introduced something into one of the lines that made Jesselle woozy. She was blurring badly as the hum became words.
'Obedience is strength. You will be strong. You will obey.'
For a moment, Jesselle did not understand when the words finally percolated through her fuddled brain. Then she screamed though the tube.
"No!" She shouted. "I am not Grineer!"
"Not yet." The voice of the doctor came and she quailed as a hand touched her scalp. It felt...wrong, that hand. Or... her skin did. "Soon, but not yet. The Queens have commanded, you will obey."
Something stung Jesselle's neck and she was falling... No she was sliding off the chair. The restraints had released her. The tubes were gone. Two strong hands grabbed her arms and held her up.
"Never..." Jesselle croaked out as the hands half led, half carried her away.
"Never is a long time, silly girl." The voice of the doctor came from a distance. "You are weakening. Tomorrow we will augment you and elevate you to proper Grineer. With the prosthesis will come more strength. For now? Rest. You have passed our tests."
"No..." Jesselle begged as she was carried away.
Everything blurred again and then she was laid on something soft. She was too tired to flinch as three small warm bodies settled around her.
"Ma'am...?" This was C-1. The girl who had kissed her before the tests. "Stay awake, Ma'am. It hard, but stay awake. Bad things happen if sleep now."
"I... I can't..." Jesselle moaned. "Too weak... too... Need to be... strong... I..."
"This no test!" C-1 sounded scared as warm arms held Jesselle. "N-1?" She begged. "What they do?"
"I do not know, C-1." The apparent leader of the group of not quite children said sharply. Something touched Jesselle's mind, a gentle touch. Can you hear me, Ma'am?
They are trying to make me Grineer. Jesselle said sadly. I... I can't stop them...
"No..." C-1 said weakly as she hugged Jesselle again. "No! Not good. Not right! Bad."
"I... don't know... what all they asked me..." Jesselle said in a tone that was half mental, half aloud. "I don't know... if I betrayed the plan... I... I can't... They are going to make me Grineer..." She started to cry. "I can't... I don't want to be Grineer."
"No." C-1 said sharply. "This not stand. Easy..." She touched Jesselle head and something wafted over the girl. It felt... heavenly. "You not Grineer. Stay awake." She commanded.
"So tired..." Jesselle moaned.
"Hold on, Miss Jesselle." N-1 said softly as several sets of hands held her and something warm covered her. "We have you."
"Just... Jesselle..." The girl mumbled as she tried to stay awake. "I am... just... Jesselle." She was fading. Curtis... help! She pleaded.
Holy hell! The boy who wasn't one said sharply. Jesselle? What have they done to you?
Trying to make me Grineer. Jesselle said sadly. I... I cannot... I... no...
Suddenly, she was elsewhere. The room was stark with white walls. The floor was dark grey metal. She was not alone. A Grineer stood in front of her, a small one. The female Grineer had familiar prosthesis but wore no armor. But that wasn't the worst.
"No..." Jesselle said as she stumbled backward. The Grineer had her face!
"You are weak." The Grineer said in a voice that mimicked Jesselle's own. "I am strong. I am Grineer. I serve. You will die."
WAKE UP! The words resounded through Jesselle as the not-clone Grineer reached for her and she jerked.
"Not... today..." Jesselle said firmly as she was falling again. Then she was back on the bed. The three girls were crying as they held her. The boys... were all close. "They... I..."
"The doctor warps minds." N-1 said softly. "We did not think he would start so soon. She was only gone two hours." Who was he talking to? She could not hear a response. "I think... she cannot hear you. What can we do?" Again, no response that Jesselle could hear. "Right, we will... do what we can. Hurry."
Jesselle was floating now. But her eyes were open as several set of hands touched her. Energy was pouring into her and it felt... good. It felt... A hand touched her skull and she hissed as pain flared. But then it faded.
"This not right..." C-1 said weakly. "They... damage her? Or change her? No machine. But... hurt her."
"I do not know." N-1 said sadly as the hands eased Jesselle into a more comfortable position on the bed. "Hold her. We need to keep her awake until the others arrive. They say they can help her."
"Who says that?" The voice of the doctor was taut with anger now. "Disobedient brats. Did you not learn your lessons the last time?"
"We are not your slaves." N-1 said firmly. "We will not be your slaves. And this girl has done nothing to you!"
"Okay." The doctor said with a sigh. "This experiment has failed. We can start again with the samples we have. Guards? Cleanse this filth."
Jesselle jerked as the bodies beside her moved. Suddenly she was alone on the bed. The door hissed open and she tried to move as gunfire sounded. A short, sharp scream came from the side. C-1.
"No..." Jesselle swallowed her pain, swallowed her anger, swallowed everything. Something pulsed out of her mind. The clones in the doorway went still, their weapons still up. She could...feel... four of the young ones close at hand. All were dying. "No!" Jesselle screamed as power flared in her mind, awful terrible power.
Jesselle NO! The scream was her mother. Don't!
THEY WILL NOT... Jesselle screamed but then a hand found hers. She stared down at the broken body that lay beside her. C-1... was smiling as life fled her form.
I die free. The little girl who wasn't one said softly. You good. No be bad. No... be bad... Jesselle swallowed hard as the girl gave a sigh... and died.
I... Jesselle swallowed hard and then gathered the still form up in her arms, holding the pitiful form tight. "No." She said firmly. "I will not be bad, C-1." Her gaze fell on the frozen clones in the doorway. "Make yourselves useful." She snapped. They... saluted her and dashed off. She could hear firing in the distance. "What the...?"
You took control of their minds. Janet's voice was hushed. Terrified. For Jesselle. Oh Jesselle... Oh god no, girl... No...
Mom! Jesselle begged. What do I do?
Hold tight, Jesselle. Janet's voice turned fierce. Help is coming. Lots of it.
Hurry. Jesselle said as she sat up. Around her, small forms lay still in pools of blood. Then she jerked. One was moving feebly. Several were! "Oh!" She slid to where the closest boy was lying, limbs splayed. "Hold on N-1... Hold on. Medkit?" She begged.
"Under...the bed..." The boy said weakly. "Had... to scrounge..."
"You did good." Jesselle said firmly as she bent down, pulled the medkit up and opened it to start working. "You kept me from dying. Time for me to return the favor."
"You cannot help us..." N-1 said weakly as Jesselle worked feverishly to assess and treat his wounds.
"Me doctor. You patient." Jesselle said firmly. "Shut up and let me work."
"I almost preferred you as a whiny little girl..." N-1 said with a faint smile that faded. "The others?"
"I don't know." Jesselle said softly. She finished with him and turned to the next, but the girl's eyes were open and saw nothing. "Oh... C-1..." She said, closing the girl's staring eyes. She felt anger start to rise. Curtis... now would be good!
On the way.