Is it news yet?
Steven can hear his own booted feet ringing out as he enters Diana's laboratory. He hates this room. Half of it is over bright and the other half is dark and shadowy, as always. There is he knows a small hidden room where she hides her test subject of the day. He doesn't like to think about that room, and he pretends it is not there.
Diana approaches him, and stands in front of several small cages giving him her never ending smug look. The cages contain lab animals that she uses for experiments, and for her meals. For a moment he watches several white mice running about, it is like they know something is coming. The other cages contain frogs, guinea pigs, small snakes and lizards; some of which are from the home world. He shakes his head, his fascination of her eating habits has grown old. Diana removes one of the mice as she speaks to him. Her jaws open fully, and without breaking its neck she swallows it. His attention wanders from what she is saying as he thinks about the rainbow he had seen a week ago. He had gone with Brian and Todd to Seattle for the Unity speech that Brian has been giving. It was the first Earth rainbow that he had seen with his own eyes and not on a ship. It was another thing to mark off of his list before he ends his life. A quick smile touches his lips.
She smiles after swallowing her mouse, and gives him that, 'Well eat look.' It is another thing that she does that he has grown tired of. She continues speaking about what is expected of her. He pulls his mouth a bit to one side, he literally was not listening with his thoughts on his Earth rainbow.
"...Well, let's just say it pleases me to serve our Leader, with whatever minor talents I possess. He expects so much of me." She says in a self-appreciating way.
It is taking every bit of his patience to listen to her. However, he smiles in an appreciative way. "He must be very pleased with your conversion process. Now another project in bonding."
"Yes, but you know how impatient he can be. Earth and their so called governing humans. Youth Leaders and Youth Corp bonding to be changed into more of a conversion process, but only to ensure devotion no matter what. It is endless his demands."
Steven takes a deep breath. Her tone more than implies her self-importance, and he feels that his only real reason to be here is to listen to her compliment herself.
Diana continues, "He doesn't understand that my conversion process is still limited, it doesn't work the same on every human subject." Diana then looks at Steven awaiting his response.
He speaks in a tone that implies he supports her. "No, but when it works. It is amazing like with Jankowski and the others. You and your staff; well it's remarkable what you have done."
She smiles smugly. "Yes, isn't it?" Diana opens another cage door and removes a small frog from its cage. He waits for her to disengage her jaw, and open her mouth. Instead she pops the frog in like a small piece of fruit. He watches the frog struggle for survival as she swallows it.
Steven finds a surprised tone to his words. He still can't believe what she did. "Humans actually believe that the conspiracy exists, and that their scientists were part of it. Almost all of our staff and crew believe it as well. It may not last long, but it was well done."
Diana smirks, "Yes, and of course the evidence we planted reinforces their belief as well."
"The plan is working wonderfully." Steven walks over to her, "Their scientists are being ostracized throughout the world. Our own people are concerned for the mission, and their safety."
Diana frowns, "The problem is our Leader is saying why not just convert them all? He doesn't understand that the human will is much, much tougher than we bargained for. Converting them all would take forever."
Steven nods, and turns his back on Diana. He finds himself looking into the mouse cage. He finds that he is actually hungry, and once again removes another mouse.
"However, we'll continue to refine the process," She says.
Steven looks at his mouse, and now is unsure if he is hungry. If he puts it back Diana will not be happy. His tone he knows is not as upbeat as before, "Yes, I'm sure you will." He keeps looking at the mouse. "As well as successfully resolving the bonding problem." He shrugs, instead of breaking the mouse's neck he swallows it. He feels the claws scratching at him, and the sensation of the wiggling tail as it slaps at his mouth. Oh, who cares? He tosses his head back, and with a jerking motion he swallows the living rodent.
Diana looks directly into Steven's eyes and says. "Well, it's important to the plan that we learn more effective and efficient methods to be used against them." She reaches into the third cage, and takes out one of the larger guinea pigs.
Steven is left wondering does she eat only once a day. Does she ever eat anything, but meat? He was thinking that he it would be good to end the meal with something else. Perhaps he would go down and see what fruit was prepared for this evenings dining. Wait too long, and the Whipelli would eat it all. Oh, well. Diana can do, what Diana wants. Who is going to say no to that woman and think they were going to live. With a deep breath he says in his most professional tone. "Well, I don't think our Leader could've chosen anyone who possibly could do a better job than you."
She smiles at him again, and lifts the guinea pig. Then Diana gives Steven a wicked smile as she opens her mouth as wide as she can possibly get it until her jawbone dislocates with a snap. Then her mouth stretches wide enough to accommodate the creature. She swallows it slowly, and Steven smiles slightly for it is with some effort that he keeps himself from laughing. Diana had overestimated her capacity.
Suddenly Steven is sure he hears a noise. He moves to the air shaft and looks in as best he can. Nothing. He turns, Diana is still trying to get her dinner down. He moves to the desk where he had seen a laser light. He points the light beam down the shaft. Again nothing. "I thought I heard a noise. You don't think it is possible an animal is running around in there?"
Diana is gasping for air. Finally, she says. "Have someone check tomorrow."
"I will," He fakes a cough. "I should leave you to get your rest . . . Wait what about the bonding for the Youth Corp."
"Oh, that! Eileen, and I took a look at it. She has no idea what she is doing, and I do not have the time. I took some bonding program she had, and added something to it. Eileen is sending the script to Alex for the image display. Once it is done, I will let John know it is finished. Then he can have someone setup the schedules."
"What about the testing? Do you know how the images are going to be displayed with the conversion process?"
"Bonding, it is bonding." Diana crosses her arms and gives him a scowling look of disapproval. "It will work fine. Alex has been doing this long enough, and Eileen can verify when finished that it suits our needs. There is no need for testing. Their devotion has never wavered, and since we can't do a conversion on them this will just have to suffice. Besides, it is not needed!"
Steven looks at her unsure what to say to her. He can hear each breath she is taking. He hopes she does not want to talk more. He most certainly does not want to make the mistake of saying what he really thinks. Steven suspects what has happened to those who have disagreed with her in the past. They disappear or die suspiciously. He has his own death planned, and not one of her making. "Good night Diana."
She says nothing, and he does not care. Still with the new bonding not being tested; what may happen, or not happen it is a concern. "Ah, perhaps. . ." Then he shakes his head. No, she is right it's not that important. If it works great. If it turns the Youth Corp brains to mush fine as well. At least it will be on Diana. "Just wanted to say your work is exceptional. No, one else could do what you do."
"Of course it is. No, one could work the concept as well as I have. It is due to long hours and innovative work." Diana again smiles smugly.
He tilts his head to her to acknowledge her statement. It is funny, Diana takes credit for the conversion process, but it was actually The Great Leaders' brother Secoery who came up with this. He not only had the idea, but figured out how to make it function. Funny now he is on the colony planet Avena. The man is likely happy he is nowhere near his brother. Talk had gone around when Steven was a very young officer that Secoery had only two choices. Become a colonist on Avena, or face a terrible accident where he died. Obviously his choice was colonist. Still there was talk that he did not approve of his brother's ways, and he was happy to go to Avena.
He turns once more before entering the hall. Diana is at her computer bringing up one holograph after another. He shrugs, some fruit would be nice.