So . . . I haven't had a very good day today. First of all, I've been sick with the flu for three days. -_- And because of that, I had to miss my friend's birthday party today. Boo. And last night when I went into Netflix, I saw on Lab Rats that it said: "Available until: 2/12/15." NOOOOO! This can't be happening! Quick, people without Netflix, what do you do to watch Lab Rats? I need to figure this out in the twelve days I have left! *sniffles*

On the bright side . . . I got another chapter of WDF done! And it fits my mood today. But you'll have to wait to read it. First, I give you chapter 20! I decided to go with "Is It Poison?" because it was my first choice, and it's a reference, and it's a bit more . . . foreshadow-y, shall we say? Also, thanks for the 200 reviews! THAT'S AWESOME!

Slight warnings: Brief allusions to claustrophobia in the first part of this chapter. Coming from a slightly claustrophobic person, I don't think it's too bad, but if you're sensitive to that you might want to skim it. Also, there are some pretty intense moments in this chapter, due to torture. I cut most of them out, but you still get to see the beginning and the end result. Be wary, I guess.

Chapter 20 soundtrack: "Falling Inside the Black" by Skillet. It's perfect for the intensity and hopelessness. Please listen to it while you read.

Wow, chapter 20 already? Let's get on with it! I don't own Lab Rats, just my OCs. Enjoy!

* * * Chapter 20: Is It Poison? * * *

I woke up with a crick in my neck. Just wonderful. I sat up and rubbed at it, looking at my dull surroundings. Oh, I remembered where I was all right. The dark, confining walls of the cell made it obvious. I groaned and leaned against the wall.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I whispered.

This was not a good situation to be in. There had to be a way out of here. My bionics were no longer blocked; with any luck, the bionic soldiers wouldn't find out I had any. Becoming a mindless soldier was not on my to-do list. I couldn't help but wonder what it felt like. Would you still have your personality? Or did it completely alter who you were? I remembered some of the soldiers I had met in the past several years. They seemed crazy and evil, but was that only because I had already passed judgement on them? The fact that they had some kind of program controlling them changed the situation a bit.

A good twenty minutes passed with nothing to do. About halfway through I sat up and crossed my legs, staring at the door. For those twenty minutes I was able to stay calm—I think that was a new record for me. After that, I couldn't stand it anymore.

I rolled off the small cot and landed on my back on the floor. The small thunk echoed through the room. I stared up at the ceiling and started to play with my hair. I was bored.

My uncles used to tease me about how I got my mom's restlessness. I think they were right. Sure, I didn't have super-speed and the endless energy my mom possessed, but my brain was on full-speed constantly.

I tilted my head backwards a bit and looked at the door, willing it to open. Anything. Nothing happened and I groaned. I thought about going back to sleep, but I wasn't tired.

As I usually do when I'm bored, I began to think. My thoughts began on Snake and The Sovereign and my current position. I started to plan an escape, but soon realized that I had absolutely no idea how to do that. I knew nothing about the building I was in or where Scarlet was or how to take out all the bionic guards. It was a very sticky situation. I supposed I would just have to be patient. Snake had mentioned something about coming back for me. If he took me out, I could observe my surroundings then.

Somehow my mind wandered to a story I had read a few weeks ago about a young girl who was chosen to save her people from alien attackers. It was a good story, albeit a bit cheesy and cliché. Normally I didn't indulge in the popular stories, since they were so full of The Sovereign's propaganda, but that particular story—which I found on a sci-fi website—wasn't so bad. There were only some subtle hints of submitting to subjugation. I wouldn't be surprised if it was pulled down because it wasn't completely in line with The Sovereign's system.

"The girl could melt metal with her mind," I said to myself. "Her name was Heli. Pretty name. I wish I could melt metal with my mind. That would be an awesome bionic ability."

I paused for a moment and thought some more.

"I wouldn't last a week in solitary confinement. I hope I can get out of here. I need to move or something. This cell is so tiny. They say that some people just lose it in small spaces like this. Talking to yourself isn't a crazy thing to do, right? Lots of people talk to themselves. It's . . . normal."

I sat up and leaned against the wall. Again my brain began to wander. Now the topic was my cell. It was not a big space, maybe six by eight feet. I shifted my shoulders uncomfortably. There was no way out of this cell. No way on my own, at least. I couldn't leave at any time. My breathing quickened slightly.

"No, don't be silly, Aspen," I chastised myself out loud. "The walls aren't closing in or anything. Come on, be logical. This is just a regular cell. You'll be fine." Stay calm and keep your emotions under control, I mentally added. You don't want to glitch.

Footsteps echoed in the hall outside and stopped in front of my door. I sat up hopefully, straining my neck to see who my visitor would be. The door swung open and revealed Snake there, grinning at me. Never had I been so happy to see someone I hated. It would probably never happen again.

"Come on, rebel scum," Snake hissed. "We've got lots to do today."

Whatever it is, it can't be worse than being trapped in a plain, claustrophobic cell with nothing but my thoughts.

Oh, how wrong I would turn out to be.

Snake marched me down the hall. I had no cuffs, but the security cameras and guards posted at every corner kept me in my place. That and the maniacal son of our maniacal leader. If I was to cross him, I would have to plan it perfectly.

We left the prison building and went into the courtyard. Glancing over at the bionic academy in the distance, I could see a small group of students practicing pyrokinesis. I watched with both fascination and terror as they spun the fire around their fingertips, directing the flames where they wanted them to go. It was both glorious and frightening.

As I looked around, I noticed a road not more than twenty yards away that led towards the main part of Restwater. My eyes must have lingered on it for a few seconds too long, because Snake said, "Don't even think about making a run for it. We'll catch you before you even make it to the road."

I bowed my head, knowing this to be true. Then I looked up at my captor and asked, "So where are you taking me now?"

Snake motioned up at the castle on the hill. "I figured I would take you into my humble home. There are some things I want to discuss with you, and I feel it would be best to do them there."

I didn't respond, but simply followed him up the hill and to the large mansion. My heart pounded in my ears as I went inside. For the first time since I was a toddler, I was in the same building as The Sovereign. He was here. The very thought sent shivers down my spine and made my knees weak. I tried to remain outwardly calm even as my brain buzzed furiously.

We walked through the halls, which looked eerily similar to the halls of the prison. Bionic soldiers darted about, carrying out their duties. The halls were simple and the rooms I could see into were dull. Such a big mansion, yet it was anything but homey.

A few bionic guards came up and whispered something to Snake, shooting sideways glances at me. Snake looked at them both and nodded. He stopped suddenly and opened a door, leading me into a small room. The bionics followed.

The room was the size of an average bedroom. It was completely windowless and the walls were the same sheer metal as my cell. The only furnishings were a table and two chairs in the center. On the table was a tall pitcher and a few glasses. I raised an eyebrow as Snake sat and motioned me to do the same.

"Leave us," he commanded the soldiers coolly as I took a seat.

The soldiers looked at each other uncomfortably.

"I said leave!" Snake repeated. "If my father doesn't trust me to do a good job, he may come in here himself. Get out!" To add extra emphasis, Snake shot two red lasers from his eyes and hit the wall next to the door. The soldiers jumped and nodded quickly, scurrying out of the room. The door shut behind them and Snake smirked.

"Okay, we're alone," I said. "I don't see any cameras in the room. What do you want from me?"

"There is a lot that I want from you, Aspen Summers," Snake replied. He noticed my startled expression and added, "Yes, I know your name. I do my research. You're a very smart girl, it seems. And a bit suspicious. I shouldn't be surprised that you have ties with the Defiance."

"You don't know that." He wouldn't trick me into talking.

"Not yet," Snake chuckled. He reached over and grabbed the pitcher. He poured the liquid—which looked like red juice—into the two glasses. He pushed the glass closer to me, but I didn't touch it.

"Is it poison?" I asked.

Snake laughed. "How wise of you to ask that. Please, I was just trying to be courteous. You've been in a cell all night; I figured you'd be dying of thirst by now. Honestly, Aspen, I was only being polite. If you don't want to drink it, fine." Snake grabbed the other glass and downed it without hesitation.

I shuffled my feet nervously. I was really thirsty. Snake had just drunk the liquid from the same pitcher. I didn't trust him, but my throat was dying for something to drink. Cautiously I picked up the cup and raised it to my lips, sipping it slowly, then faster as the cool liquid soothed my aching tongue and parched lips.

"See?" Snake spread his hands out as I put down my glass. "Doesn't that feel better?"

"A little," I said softly. "So what now? You grill me for all the information you want to know? Let me say now that even if I did know something, I would never tell you."

"Don't be so sure of yourself," Snake said. "I've broken many a-prisoner before. I'm done being polite; now it's time to learn your secrets."

"You'll never learn anything." I smirked as my brain figured out his ruse. "If you're so sure that I hold the secrets of the Defiance in my head, then I'm valuable to you. You wouldn't dare to kill me."

Snake smiled and chuckled under his breath. "You're really showing your naïvety here," he commented. "You think the worst thing I can do is kill you?" He leaned over the table and began to sneer. "Think again. By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you were dead."

His words frightened me, but at least they confirmed my theory. "So you wouldn't kill me?"

"Granted, my father wouldn't be too happy if you died. But . . . it wouldn't be the end of the world. I do plan to keep you alive, though that doesn't mean I'll treat you well. However, if you manage to annoy me enough, I might . . . 'accidentally' let things go a little too far." A laser extended from Snake's hand and he pointed it at me. "A laser sword is a dangerous weapon, and hard to control. It doesn't take much to let it slip and cut off a head." He deactivated the sword and folded his hands. "Understood?"

"I get the picture," I replied with a gulp. So my life really was in danger. Great. Whatever happened, I promised myself I wouldn't say anything about the Defiance. At this point, it was better to let him kill me. The Sovereign couldn't learn our secrets. I would remain silent.

"Now the fun begins."

"You can't crack me."

"Humans are like eggs, Aspen Summers. No matter how tough they appear on the outside, they can always crack. It's already begun: a process that you can't stop. And you're the one who started it."

An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach at his words. "What do you mean?" I asked.

Snake reached into his pocket and pulled out a small white tablet. He popped it into his mouth and my heart began to pound. "You should've gone with your gut instinct," he said.

I squeezed my eyes shut. "It was poison."

"Exactly. It's already beginning to work its way through your system. I've got more of the antidote right here. All I need are the answers."

"No, no matter what you do to me, I won't tell you a thing," I insisted.

"You're about to go through the most agony a human being can endure without dying," Snake said stiffly. "Some actually do die. I have a feeling you'll survive; you've got a strong will. But the pain will begin to spread, and it will only get worse. Within a few minutes, you will be suffering."

"I won't tell you a thing!" I repeated.

"We'll see about that. As soon as you receive the antidote, the pain will stop. If you choose not to take it, you'll have to deal with the pain. This room is quite special; it's soundproof. And lucky for me, I don't have bionic hearing. Your screams will be loud enough to shatter glass. This can all stop before it even starts, Miss Summers. Just tell me everything you know."

"You can't scare me!" In truth, he could, but he didn't need to know that. "Besides, I don't know anything about the Defiance! I know nothing about rebellion!"

"You do," Snake said levelly.

"No! You have no proof! And you won't get any. I won't break." There was a sudden pang in my stomach and I winced.

"Oh, but I will." Snake grinned. "It's already started. Who are your allies?"

"Moe, Larry, and Curly," I replied flatly. Another pang shot through my chest and I gasped.

"You'll tell me everything, you sniveling rat!" Snake shouted.

"N-Nothing! I'll take my secrets to my grave!"

"That suits me just fine."

The pain in my abdomen intensified and I moaned, falling to the ground. Pain shot through my head as if someone had whacked it with a mallet. That warranted a yelp. Tears stung the back of my eyes and I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.

Snake got up and stood above me. I looked at him as waves of pain washed over me. My brain managed to register him saying, "It will only get worse. So tell me now." He knelt down and I tried to scowl. It didn't work. My face only contorted into an agonized expression. He began to talk again, and I knew exactly what he was going to say. "Where is the Defiance base?"

I barely had the energy to draw a breath, let alone brush the hair out of my face. Besides, the bionic soldiers on either side of me were holding my arms. They were half-carrying, half-dragging me unceremoniously through the prison. Snake stopped outside a door and turned to face me.

"You surprised me today, Miss Summers," he said coolly. I glanced up and did my best to glare at him. "You did not break. At least, not yet."

"I won't," I whispered, my voice hoarse.

"We'll see about that tomorrow. There is one here whose will is even stronger than mine. His will was so strong that he was able to conquer whole nations and turn them to his side."

My eyes widened and fear flooded my veins.

"Yes," Snake said, smiling at my expression. "Tomorrow you see The Sovereign. If I cannot break you, then he will. My father . . . let's say that he has a way with people."

"Y-You're all lunatics."

"Careful. Don't be so quick to judge. There are two sides to every story."

"And your side is pure evil!" My resisting statements sounded ridiculous with my strained voice, but I wasn't going to take any of this lying down. Actually, my position was a very strange one, with my legs dragging across the floor and my arms supported by bionic soldiers. But I certainly wasn't lying down!

"For someone who claims not to be part of a rebellion, you're very rebellious. You know, Aspen Summers, we're just trying to keep peace in this world. It's people like you who mess it up."

"You don't want peace!" I would've said more, but my throat hurt too much.

"Oh, but we do. The ones at fault are the rebels who won't accept the goodness The Sovereign has brought to the world."

"You're crazy."

Snake looked at one of the soldiers, the one holding my right arm. He looked back at The Sovereign's son with a questioning gaze. Snake nodded slightly. The soldier looked down at me and said, "I was born and raised in a small town in Britain, one of the countries lucky enough to be ruled by the glorious Sovereign. When I was twelve years old, my home was raided by a rebel group known as 'The Anarchists.' They killed my parents, and I was barely able to make it out alive with my sister. The Bionic Army came quickly and subdued the group, but not before they had done much damage. That day I vowed to serve The Sovereign in any way I could. When I was fifteen, I moved to Restwater and became a soldier. I serve The Sovereign and rid the world of people who would do it harm."

"See, Aspen Summers?" Snake said. "These rebel groups are not the precious angels you make them out to be.

"That's just one example! We're not all like that!"

"We?"

I froze, knowing I had just made a terrible mistake. "Th-They," I stammered.

"It's too late, Miss Summers. You already said 'we.' Not that it's a shock. We already knew you were part of a rebellion; the truth would've come out sooner or later. Tomorrow The Sovereign will find out more. You may stay here until then."

Snake opened the cell door and the soldiers threw me inside. I grunted. Something moved beside me and I realized that I wasn't alone in the cell. I tried to roll over and see who it was, but I didn't have the energy.

"You two can keep each other company tonight," Snake said. The door swung shut and I was alone with my cellmate.

A few hands tugged on my shoulders and helped me roll over so I was on my back. "The old X-31 serum trick, eh? That's Snake's favorite." I gave a sigh of relief at the familiar voice.

"Why do you think he let us be in here together?" I asked weakly as Scarlet's face came into my range of vision.

"Who knows?" she said with a shrug. "Maybe it was a gesture of generosity. But since we're not living in a freakish alternate universe, it's either because there's not enough room in the prison—which is doubtful—or they want to listen to us and try to catch any useful bits of information."

"We won't let that happen." I flashed my mentor a faint smile.

"Good. I'm glad you didn't crack, by the way."

"You heard?"

"You were right outside my cell door. Yes, I heard. Going to visit The Sovereign tomorrow, huh?"

"Yeah . . ."

"Don't die."

"Gee, thanks for the splendid advice."

I coughed a few times and groaned. Scarlet frowned. "Take it easy, kid," she said. "X-31 is some powerful stuff. You'll be sore for a while."

"No kidding." After a few seconds' pause, I whispered, "Scarlet?"

"What?"

"Is . . . is The Sovereign . . . bionic?"

Scarlet bowed her head. "Yes," she replied. "Yes he is."

"I knew it!"

"It's not really a shock, I'm sure. You'll have to be careful about that tomorrow. Watch out for the tele—excuse me, psychokinesis—he's pretty picky about how you say it. Rumor has it that the psychokinesis is the power that made him go crazy in the first place, but I don't know if that's true or not."

"Is it dangerous?"

"He can crush your skull with the wag of a finger. Yes, it's dangerous."

I gulped. "Scarlet," I said slowly. My chest hurt with every breath, and talking wasn't easy. But I needed to know things. I needed to talk. I needed someone to console me. "Scarlet, I'm scared."

Scarlet looked down at me. Her lips twisted up a little in a sad sort of smile. "I am too, kid."

So things haven't gotten quite better. Not yet. And they won't for a while. :P Oop, looks like she's going to see The Sovereign! Haha, who's excited about that? I know I am! :D

1. Did that soldier's story shock you? The one whose parents were killed? It's important to remember that there are two sides to every story. Some of the soldiers have good reason to side with The Sovereign.

2. Did I make anyone squirm while reading this? I used a tactic I learned from one of my teachers: Tell your audience that something bad is going to happen, then postpone it. You knew that Aspen was poisoned, but I dragged it out. Basically I'm wondering if I made you feel any emotion or uneasiness at all while reading this. XD

PrincessSparkleKitty: Of course, that is a big "if." ;) And if they do get out, it might be in the way you least expect. Oh boy! XD Bionic chickens and giraffes. I'll, uh, consider that, Adam! XD There are four episodes next week too. AH! :D But it was great! Haha, well, Adam, the giraffes said hi back. :)

PurpleNicole531: Wasn't it?! Oh, that's great to hear! :D I'm glad I can make it come to life for you! Whoa, Bree and Brandon, huh? XD Don't forget about Kavin. And I'm absolutely sure that Jake's real name is Jackson. It has to be! Thanks for the vote and review! :D

Labgirl2001: Thanks for the vote! Oh, indeed it has. And things will only go downhill from here. ;)

Tor Raptor: Very good guess! Well, she's already revealed that she's part of a rebellion. I guess we'll have to see if she says anything else to The Sovereign. ;) Thank you so much! And hey, thanks for being my 200th reviewer. ;)

HawiianChick12: Interesting suggestion, but it was more about poison. Thanks, though!

Slurp: You will someday! Haha, well, urm, that's . . . an interesting guess. O_O Eh, made sense to me. Well, grammatically is a word. I don't think spellcheck technically is. Wait, it is according to my thing . . . hmm . . .

TheMichiganWriter: Thanks! Me too. :) Haha! XD Dang, that would've been great! Yup, ewoks. SO CUUUTE! :3 Oh, boy. Dogs. XD Yeah, that's true. I'm gonna miss the lab too. And the Davenport mansion. I hope they go back sometime! :( I don't think they're kicking *alarm sounds* off the show. I mean, *alarm sounds* was in the preview for the next episodes. Thanks!

ThatCrazyGal7580: Thanks! Haha, yeah. :3 Well, that's a writer for ya! :D I'm so glad! I mean, don't crack your skull open because of me, but making you give a physical reaction to my story definitely means I did something right. Not quite truth serum, but close! I'll have to look into it. Ooh, I'd much rather write cliffies than read them. XD Thank you so much!

tennisgirl77: Thanks! :)

Guest/Dolphin101/Guest: Kiiiinda guessing you're the same person. XD (If not, I apologize.) I'll be doing a one-shot called "Like Father, Like Genetically-Engineered Son" very soon that will be from Snake's point of view. I can't do it in this story since it's all from Aspen's point of view. (And I'm trying to be "professional" and not break that.) Also, reviews take a few minutes to show up on the site. Thanks for the suggestion!

Emily Tanner: Wow, you do hate him. XD Thanks for reviewing!

Just so you guys know, I'll try to catch up on reviews and PMs soon! I've fallen behind since I got sick. But I'll do it soon! (Changing subjects.) Is anyone excited for four new Lab Rats episodes next week? At first I thought my guide was messed up, but nope! Seriously, that's awesome! And, again, does anyone know where to watch seasons 1 and 2 episodes? Because apparently they won't be on Netflix for much longer! D'X

Anywho, I'm in a bit of a better mood after revising that (in my opinion) awesome chapter! The next one . . . oh boy, I can't wait for you to read the next one! See you guys in a bit for Chapter 21: Before the Throne. Bye! :D