The trading of looks continued till they reached Marucho's lab, and the boys were no longer able to keep their eyes away. They widened incredibly, so much so they almost popped out. Machines were scattered about, huge ones that looked more at home in NASA and small ones that were straight from science fiction movies.
"Marucho? W-what?" Dan asked, completely bemused.
"I know" he answered, already knowing what he failed to say. A proud smile was spread across his face, he clearly didn't have many opportunities to show off his impressive home.
"Well, while Marucho gloats let's start the test. Shun, Dan, can you come here?" He asked, though it was more a request. Shrugging they moved forwards, walking side by side. "Thank you, now, who first?" He asked, revealing a needle.
"Uh, I suppose me" Dan answered, holding his arm out.
Michael pushed his sleeve out of the way and pushing the needle into his vein, not bothering with being careful.
"Ah!" He gasped out, it wasn't really painful just a lot more than the doctor. He hid any more pain, not wanting any snarky comments from his friend or the bluenette.
"Sorry" the elder apologised, though he didn't sound too sorry. Though he did make a conscious effort to look like he was trying to be careful.
"Don't worry about it, it's not that painful, just a shock."
"I'm glad to know" pulling the needle from his flesh he drained the blood into a small tube he produced from his pocket. "Shun, your turn." The two switched places, Dr Michael wiping down the needle while Shun held his arm out.
"What exactly are you going to do with these?"
"Just a few routine tests, we're going to examine your blood and isolate the actual blood from the non-biological components." He explained, slipping the needle into his vein, being far more careful than with Dan. Withdrawing the blood he spent little time talking, far more concerned about discovering what could have scrambled their brains. "Alright, we're done here."
Placing Shun's blood into another tube he turned to his granddaughter.
"Alice, I forgot something in one of my bags. Will you bring it for me?"
"Of course grandfather. What is it?"
"You'll know as soon as you see it." Giving the old man a quick nod she ran from the room, not wanting to keep the boys waiting any longer. She could only imagine the excitement building up in them.
"Is there anything we can do while we're waiting for her to come back?" Dan asked, his thumb pressed over the needle wound trying to stop the trickle of blood from Michael's less than gentile stabbing.
"No, nothing to help the test. The odds are the same no matter what. But you can try and piece back together what you can. It may be small particle but you may realise something. I can't guarantee anything." He answered simply, using some labels he produced from the same pocket to mark them.
Dan stared from the man, whose pockets seemed to hold everything, to his friend trying to decide what to do. Maybe they could find something, but what if not? Could he handle it if he could find nothing, or something he wished he never remembered.
"Well Dan?"
"What?"
"Are you going to stand spaced out or try and help yourself?"
"I wasn't spaced out." He argued, though he couldn't help it. How was he supposed to do this? All he could think was he'd remember something horrific and his memories wouldn't return. He didn't want that to happen. He didn't want to remember something that he'd rather forget.
What if the real them were horrible messed up people who killed and hurt others? Could they live with themselves?
As he was debating he lost his chance, Alice's voice running into the room.
"I'm back, I've got it grandfather" entering the room Alice was holding a simple disk in her hand.
"Perfect, you've found it"
"What the hell is that?" Dan asked, staring at the small circle.
"It's a disk containing all my data, I'm not going to explain how it works, but it'll give you your memories back. It pieces them together and you'll know everything there is to know about yourself. It also saves a small snippet of your memories on here in case this happens again, we can fix you just as quick." He explained as best he could, slotting the disk into a slit in the panels. Pressing a few buttons the panels lit up. "Alright, boys go down there, the machine needs to warm up first."
"Alright, come on Shun." Though he hated to admit it, even to himself, he was scared. Apprehensive may have been a better word. But he wasn't about to voice it. Hoping it wasn't too obvious he let the black haired boy lead following behind silently.
Kato led them into the room below, standing them on a small platform raised a foot from the ground. Staring up they could see the others above, staring down at them with a mix of emotions. Fear, excitement, dread, curiosity. So many blended into one it was hard to discern them.
"If you're both ready we can start the experiment." Marucho informed pressing down the button that operated the mic. They nodded, trying not to show their fear.
"Marucho?" Shun started, unable to rid himself of one question. "How will this work with both of us here together? Surely our memories will get muddled."
"Ordinarily yes, but not this time, as you're both in a similar state of amnesia your minds won't grab at other memories just your own. They'll want too badly to be whole that they won't try and confuse themselves. And even if something does go amiss, your memories are going to be so similar you won't notice."
They nodded, understanding more what was going to happen. They glanced at the other briefly, the same thought running through their heads.
'I wonder what memories we'll have swapped.'
"Alright, on three. One...two...three!" Pressing the button before him he screwed his eyes shut. Not wanting to see what might happen should it go catastrophic.
A sheet of glass, bent around the platform, descended from the ceiling, blocking them inside glass so thick it could be bombproof. Crackles of red and orange ran through the ceiling, the speeding lightning striking around their bodies, hitting closer and closer to them. Jumping every time the artificial lightning struck they resisted the urge to grab the other.
Their memories would be confused enough, no need to jumble them anymore.
A few more seconds passed while the machine gained power, the bolts running through the panels in the ceiling grew, the strikes gaining momentum. One more shock and...they were hit.
Pained cries erupted from the two as the colours blended, a bright blue engulfing them. Their bodies crumbled to the floor, limbs convulsing as pain laced their bodies.
"What's happening?!" Julie cried, grabbing onto Michael's coat.
"Calm yourself child. They'll be fine. I know what I'm doing." His voice was calm and level not a hint of worry so much as brushing him.
"But Dr Michael!" She continued, forcing the old man to face her. "What if you're wrong? This isn't what I expected at all. I thought they'd be strapped not shocked. This seems far too barbaric for you!"
"Calm Julie" he instructed, pushing her from him. "You're overreacting. I know what I'm doing." Taking a deep breath she stepped back glaring at the old man who was acting so strangely. It wasn't only her who was staring at the doctor with confusion, none of the others expected something so brutal from the usually calm spoken man.
Seconds ticked by painfully slowly but finally the electric shocks stopped, the smell of burning filling the room. Coughing they ran from the observation room down to where the boys were laid unconscious.
Marucho ran to the operators who'd come to ensure the machine was turned off. While the girls dropped by their sides, checking their breathing and physical state.
"Do you think it worked?" Julie asked
"If not then all that was for nothing" Runo added.
"Grandfather? Was it successful?"
"From what I've seen the chances are in their favour though anything could happen." He answered, crouching down beside them and brushing strands of hair from their faces. They looked alive, they looked like they'd recover. But one could never be sure.
"Dr Michael, that was brutal. Wasn't there any easier way?" Julie asked moving Dan's face so she could view his eyes, looking for any movement. She knew that when someone slept their eyes could still move. But theirs were still. She didn't know what that could mean.
"None that I know" he answered simply, righting himself he straightened his clothing. "They're fine, we'll leave them a few minutes. I'm sure they can wake on their own accord. If not we'll give them a small injection." Turning he started back up the few steps to the pod they'd watched their electrocution in. "Now, if you'll excuse me I need to retrieve my disk and ensure everything ran smoothly."
Leaving them to care for their friends he jogged up the steps, not looking in the slightest bit worried for the black and brown haired boys.
"Shun?" Alice asked, shaking the raven haired boys shoulder. She too was concerned by how her grandfather was behaving. She hoped it was just the lack of sleep, that he was jetlagged.
A strange noise came from his throat, one that was a muddle of 'what' and 'huh'. The Russian girl smiled at that, at least one of them was coming to. Now, if only Dan would do the same. Dr Michael's voice burst through the room from a speaker against the wall.
"Don't force them to wake. It could halt the process, it'll be a continuous thing over the next few hours. If it's stopped they could do insane from just half a mind." The group of teens backed from them instantly. The unconscious two's faces relaxing as silence resurfaced. They breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Guilt wouldn't begin to cover what they'd feel should they force them to endure the torture to regain their memories only to lose them from their actions.
"What do we do now?" Marucho asked, staring at the unconscious boys.
"I don't know but I do know that we don't move them. We'll leave them here for a little while. Maybe Kato can watch them" Julie offered trying to think of a scenario that didn't involve them going crazy.
"Mm, maybe" Marucho acknowledged, trying to figure it out. He stared around the group for a few seconds before walking off, not saying a word to them.
"So, are we doing my suggestion or what?"
Away from the group Dr Michael walked through halls, ensuring no one knew he'd left. It wouldn't do if they walked in on him now. He had a call to make.
Stopping outside the first door to his right he slipped inside, finding the room to be one of the many storage cupboards, though, as everything in the mansion, it was triple the size it ought to be. Flicking on the light he illuminated the room his eyes quickly adjusting. Pulling off his glasses he pressed a few buttons on his watch. A face, shrouded in darkness, appearing on the small screen.
"Well Michael?" The voice asked not needing to elaborate any more.
"Sir, my infiltration of the group has been a complete success. As expected Alice smoothed out an edge that popped up and will keep faith in me. The threats we were warned off are nothing more than mere children. Ants to you my lord."
"Good, I expect a full analysis of their blood and any other compound you believe to be beneficial. And Michael, be sure it's them."
"Of course Sir, fear nothing. I shall not fail you."
"Good, I'll be speaking to you soon." The screen flicked back to black, Dr Michael reapplying his glasses as soon as he was no longer being viewed.
Switching the light off he slipped from the room, walking with no planned destination. His conversation played over and over in his mind. And all he could manage was a sly grin.
"Fear not Emperor Barodius, I shall bring you victory. I promise you that."
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