CHAPTER TEN: INMATE LAB MICE

The group had divided into three teams. Huang and April remained in the van with Yin and July, as it was decided that the dolls would be more useful outside the prison. July in particular had the use of his surveillance specters while in contact with the car windows, and though glass supply inside the prison was limited, it was not entirely unavailable. Group 2 consisted of Mao and Yozora, a decision Hei had taken immediate offense with. Huang had reasoned against Hei teaming up with Yozora because he was sure (as was everyone else) that she would distract him, and the next best option, November 11, was immediately rejected by the Black Reaper Council, a vote of one against seven that somehow stood. That left November 11 and Hei together, ironically, and the latter had to fight to convince himself that it was better off this way. No time was left to be wasted, and the teams begrudgingly entered the prison the way Mao and Yozora had done so formerly and split up once inside.

"At some point Hei will owe us all an explanation," Mao whispered, keeping close at Yozora's feet. He didn't like the way the grates in the scaffold network felt on his paws, and it distracted him. Worse still, Hei's secrecy was grating his nerves as well. A few moments passed without a response, and Mao looked up at Yozora quizzically, realizing that he had lost pace with her. She was not as conversational as before and was extremely focused on the mission now. Mao was sure it was not so far beyond the truth to suggest she was wondering what Hei was doing on the opposite end of the prison.

"Nothing?" he pressed. Yozora pressed her body to the wall silently and held her breath for a moment, and the black cat shifted his head, the bell around his neck tinkling faintly. Narrowing his eyes, he took a closer look at her in the dark, his feline vision at advantage, and realized that the false Contractor was trembling.

"The last time I was here, all the prisoners broke free and tried to rape me," she responded at last. "And my brother is held here too, so yeah, I'm a little on edge. It doesn't help to direct my attention to the other thing that is worrying me, either." Mao hissed at himself. He should have known better.

"Sorry, I was being insensitive," he agreed. "It's hard for men, sometimes." Yozora rolled her eyes and stood up straight. After a few deep breaths, she was able to shake the most debilitating of her nerves and continued leading the way.

Yozora's mask caught the dim lighting in the scaffolding, projecting a haunting glow, and her posture was tense, stiffened through. Mao wanted to urge her to relax, but what good would such empty words do? They were approaching the warden's office again, down below them. The light was still bright in the window, and the office was filled with guards exchanging thoughts and papers. Their visit did not appear casual; very likely they were still working to ascertain the cause of the security breach. Yozora halted again, peering down to get a better look. It had crossed her mind before that perhaps nighttime was not the best opportunity for any undercover Contractors to manufacture criminal substances in a prison. Would it not be more logical for them to appear busy alongside the other menial tasks, the comings and goings, the hustle of the day? And where was the most ideal location to manufacture anything at all?

Suddenly, the troop of prison guards exited the warden's office. They all took brisk paces, but none appeared in an important hurry in any particular direction. Hopeful, Yozora leaned across the scaffold railings and craned her neck, trying to get a better view of the warden's office. Mao rolled his eyes and padded over, laying flat on the grates to get a better view himself.

"The warden is still in there," he muttered. He found that so long as they were not moving, it was much more comfortable for his paws to lie down. Yozora sighed.

"Figures," she grumbled. "I want to get in there. That's where the answers are… blueprints, surveillance, documentation of the ongoing projects and responsibilities around here. That's what we need!" Mao certainly agreed.

"We'd need a means of distracting him, but it's risky after the ways things ended here the night before last," he told her. The Night Reaper nodded in response.

There was another pressing matter on her mind. Try as she could – and she certainly tried – she did not fully believe the story Huang had fed her during their briefing at Kanbimura's estate in Shizuoka. They were fools to think that she would. No matter how ordinary she was, regardless of her human nature, she had learned quickly how things functioned in this team. Lies. Before Yozora could ask the serious questions however, there was yet another she needed to ask and end her puzzlement.

"Do you imagine those prisoners all thawed out?" she asked Mao. Mao's face contorted with confusion, followed by enlightenment. He laughed.

"If they hadn't, I'm sure this prison would still be in utter chaos," he mused. Sora knew that she had best catch him while his guard was down.

"Enough crap from the both of you!" she snapped, her dark mask fixed on Mao. The cat stopped laughing immediately and sat up straight, confused. "Tell me what's really going on around here. There's more to it than you're telling me, and I refuse to be lied to."

"What are you talking about?" Mao muttered, trying not to give himself away.

"Not good enough! What is it about this substance that is so important to the Syndicate and MI6? Mao, I want the truth, and you should know I will be ruthless until I get it." Mao recalled the pepper spray and saucy attitude he had been victimized with the day this had all begun, the day Sora had cornered him in the tobacco stand for information. However, he did not think it was wise to give her the full details either. They had withheld them for a reason, and it's not as if Huang had informed the Syndicate of their makeshift union.

"Yozora, you know enough to help us," Mao replied. "And it's not as if we need you anyway, now that Hei is back." Sora drew in deep breaths of the musty, prison air through her nostrils, trying to harness some inner calm. Even so, she could feel her frustration levels rising again. The rush of adrenaline in her body was tossing and turning like a ship in a sea storm.

"You may not need me, but I am here," she said. "We don't know what I might overlook because I do not think it pertinent. Let's not make mistakes here, Mao. Everyone already discredits my efficiency because I am a human; do not put more handicaps on this mission." Mao was feeling his own frustrations now; Sora was always adept as reasoning with people. He had no choice but to relent under her logic. Huang would not be happy, but if he thought about it realistically, he would see that Sora would be of much more use to the team if she actually knew what she was doing.

"Fine," Mao agreed, making himself comfortable again. "It is our understanding that the substance is a drug (still in development) to be used to control or suppress Contractor powers."

"Even though I'm sure it's an obvious question…. Who wants this power?" Yozora asked, the gears in her brain already turning.

"It should be obvious that anyone and everyone affiliated with Contractors should want access to this power, even in its experimental stages," Mao explained. "However, this initiative began with an anti-Contractor faction of the government. That's the information most people do not have access to. It's a malevolent initiative… if you're a Contractor, that is." Yozora was still unsatisfied with something. She crossed her legs and leaned forward.

"But you said that other Contractors were undercover here," she argued. "Why would they agree to assist this initiative when it is clearly purposed to destroy them?"

"We said 'Contractor' to make it easier for you to understand, but the truth is, there are different… types of Contractors, if you will."

"Types?"

"Yes, and the Contractors assisting this mission are known as moratoria. Moratoria are a breed straddling the fence. They have powers, but they have no control over them at all, and no remuneration. It is as if they enter an idle state while their powers operate them. Over time, they lose their powers and become dolls, but not like Yin, or even July." Yozora tried to imagine a person more oblivious than July. She did not know him well, but he still seemed capable of functioning in some ways on his own. Was there really a level lower than that?

"So then these moratoria are seeking to control their powers. That's why they would take part in such a risky operation," she concluded in a whisper, deep in thought. Mao was glad Sora could fill in some of the blanks herself.

"Correct, but it's likely that the anti-Contractor faction will dispose of the moratoria once they've exhausted use of them," he continued. "Their goal is to control or eliminate Contractors, and so the moratoria are not likely to receive any special treatment."

"Might there be another method of impeding the process of becoming a doll?"

"Only other experimental drugs." Mao thought of Wiegenlied's leader, Klang, who had been sustained on a serum with full control of his powers and no remuneration. Still, drugs like that were not easily accessible, and were usually accompanied by a host of risks. "It was Hei's responsibility to gather information regarding the drug's ingredients, manufacturing process, effects, and a list of officials involved."

Sora began racking her brain for something… something she knew she was supposed to remember. Taking all the details Mao had given her, she became aware of two things. The first was that she doubted more and more Ichiro's involvement in Hei's disappearance and did not believe he was involved with the anti-Contractor faction at all. The second thing was that there were two places they absolutely needed to survey in the prison, and that was the warden's office as well as the Special CA block for Contractors. And then there was…

The machine housed at Miyabita. Sora remembered now the mysterious machine in the basement of the production house, and how Hei had materialized in the darkness out of nowhere. Hei was being held hostage there, and Sora tried to imagine again what sort of machine it could have been. It was strong enough to entrap an elite Contractor for months, assuming it was within that tomb that Hei had been held, but it was no ordinary cage. Complete with dials and levers and infamous red buttons, Sora had a dark feeling in her belly, the acid churning uncomfortably. What if…?

"Sora, what are you-"

"We absolutely need to get to the warden's office first," Yozora interrupted. "Somehow, and I don't much care how, we need to get access to his files and surveillance footage-"

"It's my turn to interrupt you," Mao said. "You need to understand that we operate in the shadows." Yozora stood up and rolled her eyes. She didn't care what Mao said, she was certain that the warden's office was where all the significant information lay.

"Furthermore, once we leave the scaffolding, we'll be on camera too," Mao continued. "We especially don't want that." He lifted up one of his hind legs to scratch behind his ear, and Sora dejectedly leaned against the scaffold railing. Mao had no faith in her, and that in itself was upsetting, but Sora could not deny the truth in Mao's words. It appeared impossible to break into the warden's office without being detected, and even if the prison staff could write off what happened as an unexplained phenomenon, there was still the danger posed by the anti-Contractor faction responsible for kidnapping Hei. What do I do? Sora's mind was wailing with frustration.

"Then what the hell are we even doing in here?" she demanded to know. "No one will give us insider information simply by asking. And if the prison staff don't see what's going on, then how-" Yozora stopped herself, subtly shaking her head with disbelief.

"Was that rhetorical, or-"

"They're in on it," Yozora said. "It's really the only logical explanation, isn't it? What if staff members – likely authority – are in on this? They have a prison full of guinea pigs on which to test the strength and effects of the drugs. Nobody cares about what happens to these people."

"That does make the most sense," Mao agreed. "But even with that theory, we have no evidence and…"

"This is why we need to get into the warden's office!" Yozora reiterated yet again. "The only way for this large operation to go so unnoticed is if the people who are supposed to notice are, in fact, responsible."

"I can contact Huang…" The skepticism was obvious in Mao's voice.

"So that is your task," Yozora told him firmly. "You're a cat, the least interesting figure of the team. I wouldn't doubt they get strange, stray animals in here all the time. Use your stealth and get into that office."

"What will you be doing?" Mao demanded to know, suddenly aware that Yozora was not using the word 'we' anymore.

"I have an errand of my own."

"We can't split up!" Mao hissed, sparing no effort to conceal his alarm. But he paused and thought it through. Sora appeared determined to do whatever she wanted anyway, and how was he to stop her? "Where are you going?"

"Don't worry about that just yet," Yozora replied. She wanted to keep her theory regarding the machine a secret until she was sure. If it was at all the breakthrough she assumed it would be, she knew Hei would not want the MI6 agents involved. Therefore, without offering much more explanation, the Night Reaper stalked off with a renewed confidence in herself. She would prove herself deserving of respect on this team, she who re-launched a defunct mission with sheer will, she who was certain of holding the key, and once she solved this mystery, she would bring Hei home.

Mao wanted to question her, but he chose to contact Huang, as well and Hei and November 11 to update everyone on Yozora's theory and unending desire to acquire access to the warden's office. He did not like Yozora's insistence on separating from him, and as he watched her silhouette disappear into the darkness, he only hoped she would be alright. The wrath of the Black Reaper was more than he could bear.

Hei did not want to give November 11 any satisfaction, so he resisted the rage ever building up inside of him. He managed to distract himself with yet more worries about Sora's condition, as well as the case at hand. It was frustrating for him to have essentially returned to square one after everything he had been through – with a smug Briton, no less – but he would work as hard as he could to complete this task with Sora safe.

The two Contractors had already surveyed all of the production rooms – the kitchen, the wash room, and the like – and were now exiting the recreation floor and entering the prison yard. Their present goal was to make their way to the Special CA block where the hardened Contractors were allegedly housed. If nothing else, it would be interesting to survey such a unique cast of inmates. The care ordinary humans must have attended to to ensure that they were safe against the supernatural abilities of these feared monsters should prove fascinating.

Hei moved at a brisk pace, efficient but sparing little energy because of his toned legs, and November 11 sauntered casually behind him while keeping pace. The Briton had to admit to himself that his head was not completely submerged in the mission either, but rather was bobbing along. He could not explain his urge to comfort Sora in the alley, though he would never admit, not even to himself, that love or lust had motivated him. The more mysteries he uncovered, the greater his fascination piqued. He cleared his throat, and he noticed Hei twitch with irritation.

"I take it you want to say something," the Black Reaper snarled.

"Tell me how you met Sora," November 11 insisted coolly. Hei abruptly stopped walking and turned around, his mask concealing the fire that blazed in his blue eyes.

"Do not say her name," he told his companion harshly. "We all have aliases for a reason, and Yozora's identity is especially precious."

"Precious to you," November 11 emphasized, his demeanor growing serious. "Your team gives a lot of credit to that woman, more so than they can afford to waste on humans. You must imagine that raised some flags for my team and me."

"It's not your business," Hei retorted. "There will always be secrets between us." The MI6 agent could not disagree with this, but it did not cure his curiosity. He would not be satisfied until he knew the truth.

The Reaper took hold of the prison door and gave it a shove, but it didn't budge. Of course it was locked this time of night, or at all times. He had not taken into account that when everyone had previously managed to escape the facility, the security on the prison had shorted, disarming all locks. Taking hold of the handle once more, he prepared to give the wiring a jolt when suddenly footsteps sounded in the recreation room. November 11's white suit was still visible out of the corner of the Reaper's eye, so he knew that the Briton was not the source of disturbance.

"Other one," a guard called, referring to Hei. "Turn around so that we can see you."

"You want to explain what you think you're doing here?" another said. Hei turned around slowly, annoyed and frustrated with himself for his error in judgment. Working with November 11, knowing that Sora was within the prison, lacking any solid remembrance of his imprisonment; all of these things was interfering with his thoughts. Both guards were frowning intensely, most especially at the Black Reaper's gaudy appearance.

"We certainly would, officer," November 11 replied calmly. "I'm afraid that there is little time for that, however."

Sora found her way back to Ichiro's cell block, slightly more sure of herself. She had overcome his cruel words before, as well as the massive prison break. She could now withstand whatever else Ichiro might attempt. Even with his perverse thoughts and words, he was still her brother and appeared at least somewhat inclined to assist her. She had but a few simple questions for him, and if he could give her clear answers, whether she suffered more torment from him or not, that would be enough for her. And then she could concentrate on the next phase of her plan.

Looking down through the narrow opening between the scaffolding network and Ichiro's cell, Sora drew her wire from her belt and secured it to the railing. Her stomach shifted, and a brief bout of nausea followed, but they dissipated quickly and she leapt down into the cell with the same precision as before. Her stealth landing startled her brother, who sat up in bed immediately.

"Another visit?" he mused sleepily, rubbing his eyes. He appeared somewhat relieved to discover it was only Sora who had returned. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He brushed some disheveled hair from his eyes, which were glazed over with a sickly film. Sora felt a soft pang of pity in her heart, but she shook that away as well.

"I need to ask you something very important," she told Ichiro calmly. "I need this one small thing of you." Ichiro managed to smile.

"It feels so good to be needed," he said genuinely. Sora did not respond to this comment.

"It might appear confusing, but-"

"Just ask me, Sora," Ichiro interrupted. He leaned forward in anticipation, and his younger sister leaned back against the stone wall of his cell, gently scratching the back of her neck.

"What I want to know," she began, "is whether or not the guards have administered any strange medications to the inmates as of late." Ichiro frowned at her, and Sora watched him try hard to resist asking what this was all about.

"Like a sedative?" he suggested. "Those are administered all the time to unruly inmates." Sora shook her head.

"No, not commonplace medicines," she said. "Something a bit more nonspecific, something they introduced abruptly, maybe around six or seven months ago." Ichiro seemed to think on it, but he didn't look too sure of himself. His frown intensified, and he shrugged.

"It's a prison," he told her. "They could administer all sorts of things and get away with it." Sora was feeling anxious and disappointed. She thought about it some more. Even if they had introduced a new drug, they could have administered it under false pretenses. They might have suggested it was another sedative, or could have swapped out an inmate's traditional medication without word. How might one draw the distinction? Ichiro startled her when he released a faint cough. It was nothing serious, his sister could tell, but she was suddenly struck with enlightenment. There it lay, in Ichiro's throat, a means of telling the medicines apart.

"Have any of the inmates suddenly struck ill without definitive cause? Maybe the flu?" she asked her brother. He raised an eyebrow, but a flicker of understanding surfaced in his face.

"A couple, actually," he mumbled. "I don't think there was ever an explanation for it either." Sora's body grew warm as the adrenaline pounded through again. This was a start!

"I know it might be hard to recall, but do you think any of those who fell ill were already taking medication?" she pressed eagerly. Ichiro chuckled at his sister's change in attitude, but took to thought again. Sora added, "Especially a treatment they might have begun only shortly before getting sick!"

"One was, that I know for sure," he replied. "But I don't know about the rest. Now that I think about it, this happened quite a few times, but not especially recently."

"You mean regularly?" his younger sister pressed. "A group of inmates fell down ill at the same time, multiple times?" He looked to Sora sincerely and nodded.

"Do you think they were testing experimental medications on the inmates?" Ichiro asked her. "It would explain some things…"

"I have to go," Sora told him instead, their meeting drawing to a close abruptly. Ichiro said nothing, did not protest or attempt to restrain her. He simply watched her glide back up to the scaffolds as her wire retracted and listened as her gentle footsteps faded into the distance.

Sora knew now that she had to get out of here, but she did not want the rest of the team involved. She was ahead of them for once, but no, pride had no factor here. The team was clumsy with their extra appendage, the MI6 agents, and if she involved Huang or anybody else, November 11, April, and July were bound to be involved too. It would serve as a hindrance, so at least for now, her goal was to gather information alone. She imagined Hei would be furious when he realized she was missing, but he had caused her the same grief. Not that she liked to be petty.

The guards were testing this drug on the inmates, testing for side effects. Given what Ichiro had told her, she was positive that those inmates had not contracted the flu, but were suffering adverse reactions to the medication; their specific symptoms were irrelevant. This theory was further supported by the fact that it had happened multiple times on a regular basis. She did not know where they were manufacturing the drug, or how exactly the guards were involved, or what their purposes might be, but at least she had a witness account of their tests. If Mao could get into the wardens' offices, her proof would be indisputable, and she might gain further insight into how the prison staff was linked to whatever elaborate efforts the anti-Contractor faction was taking. There must be a big picture to this operation.

Sora's earpiece suddenly clicked and buzzed to life. She paused in the shadows of the scaffold and strained her ear to hear, but she could not clearly pick up on the words spoken until Hei's voice resonated loud and clear. "It's the Night Reaper," he said. "He must escape the dawn."

What? Hei, what does that mean? Sora wondered nervously. The Night Reaper was she, but what did he mean by "must escape the dawn"? Day and night were opposites… would a creature of the night have an enemy in the day? Escape the dawn… The other voices, still muffled and indistinct, appeared angry and confused. Sora feared remaining stationary, whatever it was that Hei was trying to tell her, so she started running in pursuit of the loading garage and her exit.

It was a warning, wasn't it? Hei was telling her to escape.

What perfect timing for Sora, as she was prepared to do that very thing. Now she had justification for doing so.