Chapter 7
After the camera stopped recording for the second video, Lexi pulled off her helmet. When she had changed into some more ordinary clothing, she took Charlie over to the nearby stream, and scrubbed the temporary, eco-friendly, animal friendly hair dye out of his fur. Then cleaned herself.
When they were both clean and their camp site was packed up in the car that she won in Reno, they hit the road.
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Once safe at a motel room in Lincoln Nebraska, Lexi pulled out her laptop, and started to go through the information that they got so far.
Lexi pulled up the files from the Yellowstone base. She had an idea of what to expect inside of the files. Or at least she thought she did.
After the second time, throwing up in the trash can, Lexi moved onto the files about the animal testing lab. The first thing she saw was a video file. She clicked on it, sat back and watched.
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"November 3rd, 2008." A scientist, whose lab coat named him as Kevin Anderson. "The other subjects in the Winter Soldier Program have all failed. Save for the Asset. For reasons that we still can't discern, the Asset and Captain America as of yet, are the only ones who have survived, and not been driven insane by the Super Soldier Serum.
"We've gone back to square one. My team and I are hopeful to be at the testing stage by the end of the month."
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"November 28th, 2008." Kevin said. "We have double and triple checked our notes. I am confident that we are ready to progress to the testing phase. We'll begin our testing once we've secured test subjects."
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"December 4th, 2008. We've found a group of test subjects. Among them are, four dogs, five cats, two parrots, three ferrets, and three rabbits. We are ready to begin.
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"December 12th, 2008. After yesterday's test, Subject 003 had an unexpected reaction with the Serum. Upon further investigation, we have discovered that subject 003 is pregnant. we shall isolate 003 for the duration of the pregnancy. This may have beneficial results."
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"February 3rd, 2009. 003 gave birth today. Out of all eight possible subjects, only one survived birth. This one will be test subject 018. Unfortunately, 003 died giving birth."
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"April 15th, 2009. We lost two subjects last night. 001, and 014. 001 couldn't handle the strain of our newest serum, and expired at 0952 hours. 014 on the other hand, took on the brunt of one of the trainers' anger, I think it was about his girlfriend leaving him. 014 expired at 1330 hours."
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"July 20th, 2009. We lost another three subjects. 004, 010, and 016." Dr. Anderson pinched the bridge of his nose. "Agents Stevens, and Newl, are sadistic. They beat the subjects until they couldn't fight back any more, and then they beat them some more. Laughing the whole time. I've put in a request to have them transferred. I'll never be able to complete my work, if those two keep killing the test subjects."
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"August 2nd, 2009. My request for Stevens and Newl's transfer was denied. The higher ups either hate me, or are sadistic like these two idiots. The reason that they gave me was, that should we succeed in making the serum, that they are going to have to learn how to take the pain. That our enemies will not be so lenient. They also said that this way, if we succeed, we'll be able to see if it is a success. As the serum will noticeably heal the subject."
The scientist sighed in exhaustion and rubbed his eyes, "Now I'm stuck with them. Oh well. Orders are orders. "
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"November 30th, 2009. My bosses are getting impatient. It's been a year, and still no real significant progress. I'm sure I can figure it out. I just need more time."
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"January 12th, 2010. We're close. I can feel it. A few more tweaks to the serum, and we'll have it. I'm sure of it. A few more weeks and I'll have it. Just a little bit longer."
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"February 25th, 2010. We made a few tweaks to the formula. We're ready to test it now. We'll be giving the subjects the serum in the morning."
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"February 26, 2010. Another four test subjects died. 002, 009, 015, and 017." He gave a tired sigh. "I'm not going to give up. I will figure it out. One way or another. I've sent in a request to have more test subj - What the? Catch that dog!"
A large German Shepherd came bursting out of the cage labeled 018. Causing the scientist that had opened the cage to check on the subject to shove Dr. Torres to the ground. Dr. Anderson pressed the emergency button. Alerting the whole base of an escapee.
Dr. Anderson got on the radio, "Do not kill it! We need the subject alive! Stun only, do not kill!"
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"March 8th, 2010. We looked everywhere we could for 018, but we never found it. The tracking chip that we had put into the back of all of the subjects' necks, first led us south through the forest. Then it went east. A week went by of us going in several different directions, before we caught up with it.
"Only to find the chip, with no sign of 018. Well played, you mutt. Well played."
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Lexi rewound the video to the previous entry, pausing it about half way through. Then zoomed in on the dog that escaped. Her eyes widened when she recognized the dog.
Lexi looked down, to the dog lying in the bed beside her. She reached out and gently felt the back of Charlie's neck, and felt the slight indent on his neck.
"Oh Charlie." Lexi mournfully sighed, before wrapping her arms around Charlie.
"They will never have. They'll have to go through me, first." Lexi said with conviction, while looking Charlie in the eyes.
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Some time after, Lexi was thinking about what she learned, when something caught her attention, "What's a Winter soldier?" she thought.