Alius111: I know usually wait a week to post a new chapter but yesterday I found myself with nothing to do and thought: What the hell. I'm mean come on, it was Sunday. Anyway, this chapter might be a little shorter than some of my last. But it was necessary. Read and Review.
Simon's Experiments II
By Alius111
Chapter Ten
Vulnus, Feel As I Feel
Two lonesome days had flown by at an almost agonizingly slow pace. But despite the fact that there was nothing to do but stare vacantly at the wall; I somehow managed to keep myself busy. After all, a lot had happened in the past few days; enough to keep my mind occupied for a couple of hours at least. And I find when you concentrating on something of great importance, time seems to move much faster. Unfortunately I had exhausted every branch of thinking, and every possible method to determine the situation. At the moment my most pressing question was not how the Grand Councilwoman had learned of my Experiment O, and how she had gotten a hold of those documents for that matter. But when was Fletcher's signal going to appear. It had been six days and nothing. You would think I would be more concerned about how a fascist, tyrannical, politician had obtained top secret documents that nobody knew existed, but I wasn't. It didn't matter to how she had come to posses them; even if I could figure it out, (I had some theories) would knowing how she had gotten a file on Experiment O really help me in my current situation? No. What I should be worrying about is the escape plan, and once that was out of the way, I could fret about the details afterwards.
Yesterday I had another 'meeting' with the Grand Councilwoman, and I had told her the same thing: there was no chance in Hell that I was ever going to hand my Experiment over to her. And just like before, she didn't seem angry. She merely smiled and dismissed me. Now I was beginning to worry. These weren't just some of my paranoid delusions; she had something in store for me. And I could probably waste hours thinking it over, rattling my brain for any solution, but unfortunately any answer I did come up with I didn't even want to consider as a possibility. They weren't exactly pleasant. And I wouldn't exactly put it past her to do something that was at least fundamentally related to what I had in mind.
At least, amidst all of this confusion, and conspiracy there was a subtle silver lining. Apparently, the Grand Councilwoman still believed–or at least hoped I would eventually come around and hand over my Experiment to her. So she was gracious enough to reinstate my solitary shower privileges. But something told me this wasn't the end. Maybe she wasn't trying to bribe me into anything. Maybe she was just giving one last chance at a peaceful transaction before she made her move. Either way, today was my time to take a shower, and I was looking forward to washing all of the dirt and grit out of my fur. For one, I was starting to smell, and secondly I was certain the warm waters would do wonders for my aching muscles. Especially my right arm. Warm water always soothed the pain in my arm.
Although, maybe indulging myself in a shower wasn't the greatest idea. After all, every time I take a shower something bad always happens. Whether it's soul crushing hallucinations or barbaric rape attempts, something always happens. I can remember back to a time when I could take a shower and wouldn't have to worry about getting my head ripped off. Tragically, in prison that's another luxury I can't afford. But at least I would be washing myself in private and wouldn't have to worry about the bloodthirsty populace of Prison Asteroid K-37.
It's remarkable that when you have nothing, when everything you would consider the positive aspects or your life are taken away; the simplest necessities of life can brighten your day. In my case it was the promise of a hot shower. At least one good thing had come out of my life sentence in prison: I now realized how ignorant I had been; how I had taken every little thing for granted. Now I had a greater respect for life. I think I finally realized how precious and fragile it is. I wasn't going to live forever, and quite honestly I didn't even want to try. All life has to come to an end at some point. In a way I was sort of looking forward to death. I know that must sound morbid, but to someone like me, death is not considered an end but is thought of as another greater beginning. In my lifelong search for knowledge, there would be nothing more satisfying than living out my life and finally learning that age old secret of what truly happens after death. I suppose eventually I will learn the secret, but hopefully not any time soon. As excepting as I am about death, I still had things to do. Things that must be done before I am ready to leave this world. Among my many thoughts there is only one absolute: I wasn't going to get any of those things accomplished as long as I'm stuck here in prison.
Just then my thoughts were interrupted by the opening of my cell door. It seems like every time I start to get some serious thinking underway, I always get interrupted by something, and this time it was the guard arriving to escort me to the showers. Well it was about time. Service in this cell block was terribly slow. My meals were always late and my escorts to the showers were always tardy. Oh well, could be worse. At least I didn't have to suffer another cell mate. I can only imagine what that would be like–
"Prisoner10100101," the guard announced. "I am here to escort you safely to the cleansing facilities, resistance or failure to comply will result in immediate termination. Do you understand?"
Who the hell is this nut-job trying to be? G.I JOE? I have a real Captain America here.
"Yes I understand," I told the guard. "Are we ready to leave?"
The guard stiffened and saluted. "Affirmative, I will evacuate prisoner with precious cargo to the facilities with the utmost stealth and secrecy."
This guy is a few nuts short of a fruitcake, I thought as I spotted all of the badges and medals he had pinned to his uniform.
"Alright then, let's go," I said, climbing down from my bed.
The guard who I nicknamed Captain America, nodded and proceeded to fasten my wrists securely into handcuffs.
My journey to showers was needless to say, dull. As long as I walked in a straight line and kept my head down I had nothing to be afraid of. But it wasn't my arrival at the showers that held any great significance. It was what happened after I arrived.
The 'Cleansing Facilities' as Captain America had called them were just as I remembered. There wasn't even the slightest trace or evidence of the carnage that had taken place here only weeks ago. The hacked and mangled corpses of my inmates had been cleared away and the floor was re-tiled. Which is a good thing I imagine. I don't think washing myself while standing on bloodstained tiles would be very sanitary. But what the hell. I've been through worse. It wouldn't be the most disgusting thing to happen to me.
"You have exactly fifteen minutes," Captain America boldly declared as he removed my handcuffs and forced me into the showers.
I growled and watched as the door closed behind me and I was left alone in the dingy and poorly lit facilities. Even though the floor had been re-tiled, this place somehow managed to look shabby and weather worn. Even as I walked towards a shower head I could feel a thin coating of grime collecting on the pads of my feet. It was disgusting.
Shuddering, I stepped under the leaking and rusted nozzle and sighed as it came to life, sending a harsh stream of water cascading down my body. Thankfully Captain America had not forgotten to turn on the hot water.
It was rare moments like this when I was able to relax. The endless drum of water pounding against the floor was the only thing I knew. Sighing, I let my ears drop and felt all the tension in my aching and pounding muscles melt away. In these blissful moments where the only thing in existence was the drumming of water, I felt truly at peace. I pushed all of my troubles and worries from my mind and just reveled in the wonderful sensation of the warm water thoroughly soaking my fur. Unfortunately, much to my chagrin and disappointment; my time of relaxation which was almost tragically short, wouldn't last.
Because at that instant the shower door suddenly burst open and the showers were flooded with federation soldiers. Panicking, I whirled around to see the business ends of five plasma cannons pointed directly at my face. Wildly my eyes scanned the faces of my attackers. They were all the lizard like men that made up the federation's army. They wore the standardized white combat uniforms and their long faces were concealed by helmets and tinted face guards. What they wanted with me I had no idea. Had this whole thing been a trap the all along? Just then I spotted Captain America lurking around the edge of the group, smiling and watching me struggle with a delighted twinkle in his eye.
Placing his finger on the trigger, one of the guards approached me and forced me against the wall.
"The Grand Councilwoman demands a meeting with you immediately," The Guard said as he roughly grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and forced me to march beside him.
I didn't know what to do. It all happened so fast. One moment I was standing peacefully under a warm stream of water and the next thing I know I'm being forced down a dark passageway, towards a closed door.
The Grand Councilwoman was waiting for me beyond that door, and when I was once again seated in front of her, she was in a state I had never seen her before. Gone were the plates of chocolate éclairs and masks of false cheerfulness. Now she seemed tired and ragged like she hadn't gotten a good nights sleep in days. There were dark bags under eyes that did nothing to dull the intensity of her icy stare. To me she had the appearance of someone who had gotten ready in a hurry. And she was definitely in a rush. Something had caused her great distress and I was curios as to what it could possibly be.
"Something very distressing has occurred," The Grand Councilwoman said as she sat in the chair opposite of me. I could see her hands. They were shacking. "It would seem that this problem is a little closer than I expected. We must act quickly if the federation is to survive."
For moment I was silent. I quietly sat in my chair, water from my still wet fur dripping onto the floor. It was strange seeing her like this. So tired and ragged. It almost made her look human. Before I saw her as an unstoppable force. An endless and unrelenting machine. Almost like a goddess. She always seemed so cold and untouchable. But now, seeing her in this state, exhibiting wearisome traits that could be associated with every other living creature; I realized that she wasn't a machine. She was a living,breathing thing, and like every other living thing she needed to eat, to breath, and to rest. Something had knocked the goddess from her pedestal and into the world of the mortals, and I was anxious to know what could have such power. So I asked her the only question that came to mind:
"What problem?" I asked.
Her tired but still intense eyes looked up at me, almost like a deadly storm was raging in those dark, green depths deciding whether or not to destroy and ravage. But she relented.
"This may trouble," the Grand Councilwoman said as a guard handed her a steaming cup of tea. "But, you must know, because it seems that we are going to have to assist each other for our fates are intertwined."
I leaned forward. I didn't want to miss a single word she said. "What has happened? Tell me," I demanded.
She sighed and took a sip from her tea before continuing. "Dr. Jacques Von Hamsterviel's forces have attacked your home planet."
The moment the words left her mouth, I felt my heart stop and I nearly fell from my chair in a mad panic.
"What!?" I yelled. "When!? Why!? Was anyone hurt!?"
"It would appear," The Grand Councilwoman replied. "That Dr. Hamsterviel is also aware of Experiment O, and last night, while the federation slept. He and a small armada attacked the island of Kauai in search of it. No one was injured and he failed to obtain the experiment due to the efforts of Experiment 626. Our forces arrived shortly after the initial attack, and Hamsterviel fled. We perused but lost him after he managed to evade our blockade."
My ears drooped and I lowered my head.
"This is all my fault," I said on the verge of tears.
"YES!"
Startled, I looked up to see the Grand Councilwoman who had jumped to her feet, sending both her chair and cup of tea hurtling to the floor. The chair fell with a noisy clang and the cup shattered but the Grand Councilwoman noticed none of these things. Her eyes were alive with a maniacal light and for a moment I was afraid.
"YES!" She repeated. "It is your fault! And this is your chance to redeem yourself!"
"What do you mean?" I asked a little uneasily.
"I mean, by giving me Experiment O you could prevent Dr. Hamsterviel from getting it in his clutches. And using Experiment O, I could finally wipe out the threat of that disgusting little fur-ball once and for all." Determined, she leaned across the table until our faces were inches apart. She could have been close enough to kiss me. "I know my methods might seem a little harsh, but it is for the good of the federation. And just because my punishments might appear unjustified and unfair, that does not mean I will fail to reward loyal service when it is due."
Now I knew the reason for her distress. Hamsterviel was after my experiment just like she was, and she wanted to get it before he did. And the fastest way to do that was through me.
"What I am about to offer you is priceless," The Grand Councilwoman declared. "If you surrender Experiment O to me, I will pardon all charges against you, and you will be immediately released from this prison."
Released from prison, My ears perked up in interest but I remained silent.
"You are a brilliant scientist Simon," She said. "Hand over the experiment and not only will I release you, but I will establish you as President of Galactic Defense Industry's. Think it over Simon, your freedom at last and galaxy wide fame as the greatest scientist ever to enter the federation." The Grand Councilwoman smiled maliciously and placed her hand on my shoulder. Her grip was so strong I could see the tendons sticking out in her arm. "Join me Simon," She pleaded. "I'll make your dreams come true . . . it is a magnificent specimen, you must let me have it."
I looked into the Grand Councilwoman's eyes; their icy green depths seemed to melt and I could see her true desperation. She knew if Hamsterviel got his hands on my experiment he would destroy her. Everything she had worked so hard to build, her entire empire. Her whole world would crumble and come crashing down under the might of my creation. And the only thing that stood in the way of the inevitable destruction of her dictatorship was the very thing she had confessed to loath and despise: Me.
And this was it. The final temptation. I was like Faust being tempted by the devil to sell his soul. I'll admit, I was tempted to take her offer . . . very tempted. All I had to do was hand over my experiment and all of this would stop. No more escape plots, no more cells, and no more injuries. I could be with my family again. But could I do it? Was it worth it? Could I hand over my creation–my brain child, and condemn it to a life of servitude as this women's weapon of mass destruction? There was no easy answer. I had so many factors to consider. Every time I thought of just giving in to her, I couldn't help but remember when I first created him. I remember pushing my face anxiously against the glass shield of the fusion chamber, feeling so worried that he would be another failure. Then the remarkable feeling of seeing those large black eyes staring curiously back at me. The eyes I made for him . . . he was perfect. It nearly killed me to dehydrate him after he had just barely begun to live . . . No, I couldn't do it. No matter what happened to me I could never give him to her.
Growling, I summoned every ounce of Courage I possessed and looked the Grand Councilwoman right in the eye.
"I will never give my experiment to you," I said.
Frowning, the Grand Councilwoman recoiled and stood upright. "Think of what your saying," She said.
I raised my head and stared at her defiantly. "I have."
She frowned and the distinctive lines in her forehead became curved and twisted in anger. Her right hand gripped the head of her cane so hard it started to tremble an I feared it might shatter. This was it. The desperation was gone from her eyes. The goddess was back. The unmerciful and unrelenting machine had taken its rightful place on top the pedestal. Anger as I had never seen it burned in her eyes, the storm was loose and free to unleash its unending fury.
"Very well then," The Grand Councilwoman stated in a harsh and resounding tone. "Then you leave me no choice. I shall enjoy watching you break."
What occurred next was a blur. The last thing I remember is the cruel and sadistic smile that stretched across the Grand Councilwoman's face and the mocking words she left ringing in my ears:
"I'm sure Vulnus will have her fun with you."
Then, pain exploded from the back of my head and everything went black.
Alius111: Well, there it is. Yet another chapter. Who could this mysterious Vulnus be? Well I can't tell you, then that would ruin the surprise. But I will tell you one thing: Vulnus is a Latin phrase, and it means 'To Wound.' And on the lovely note. Please Review.