You Never Know
Chapter Six: Amy's Plan
Weeks had passed since Amy Candler was brought to Project Crescent. Amy barely noticed. She had a lot to do and a whole lot to think about. She had managed to make a plan…a very good plan, in fact, but only if she could pull it off.
This is it, Amy thought with determination as she sped through the halls. I'm going to make it happen.
Amy fingered the lab keys Nancy had given her. It was a great help when Amy needs to snoop around. In the weeks she had spent in the labs, she had gathered enough information to pull off her plan.
She stopped in front of a big metal door. It was one of the main labs---one of the biggest and most complex. It's also the place where Amy can find what she's looking for. The central computer.
Amy quickly unlocked the door and stepped inside, careful not to make a sound. It was past midnight, and it was the perfect time for Amy to do what she has to do. No scientists and doctors walking around, only a few guards who are mainly at the front and back entrances of the building. Of course, there are security cameras, but Nancy took care of that. She disabled it so Amy can walk around.
Amy went directly to the central computer. If Amy was right, this computer contains all the basic and most important information. It also holds access to other computers in all the labs.
Amy had been here many times, and her photographic memory helps a lot. Even in the dark, she knows exactly how to handle the complex computer system.
In a matter of seconds, Amy had changed the passwords into a bunch of random letters and numbers so the scientists wouldn't be able to access them, which would be a major problem to Project Crescent.
Of course, Amy deleted all the files too. So just in case the scientists managed to hack in without the password…well, the files would be gone.
Amy smiled to herself as she deleted all the files of the computers of every single lab. It didn't take Amy more than twenty minutes to do all that.
Of course, Amy knows that there are other Project Crescent Labs across the country. And those other labs hold information like these too. And before she knows it, the data would be restored and Project Crescent would continue pursuing its goal…
But Amy wasn't going to let that happen. After the missing files freak out the scientists, Amy is going to destroy the real opponent. The people behind the project.
"The guys are asking for a report. You know, about what's going on here. Who's doing it?" Dr. Harris asked, tapping her pen on the table. They were in one of the building's main labs. Scientists and doctors were working busily around them.
Mary Jaleski's head jerked up. "What kind of report?"
"You want to do it, Ms. Jaleski?" Dr. Harris frowned. "I'm not sure you can do it, Mary, after all, you know little about what's happening in the Project. I think it's better to let one of the scientists do it."
Mary laughed, "Who needs all the scientific terms and facts? I bet the guys at the organization know as much about it as I do. All they need to know is if the clones are doing fine and if they're meeting their expectations. You know what I mean."
Dr. Harris opened her mouth to reply to this when one of the scientists tapped her shoulder.
"There's a problem," The short, redheaded scientist said seriously. "I couldn't seem to access one of the computers main codes. It must have been altered---"
"I'm busy, Dr. Lane. Can you discuss this minor problem with somebody else?" Dr. Harris snapped.
Dr. Lane had to stop herself from retorting. "Yes, ma'am." She said defiantly.
"As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted…" Dr. Harris turned her head to face Mary. "Yes, I see your point, Ms. Jaleski. But it's going to look better with scientific evidence."
"Don't underestimate my knowledge, Dr. Harris." Mary said, then added, "Anyway, all you need to do is give me a report and I'm going to study it and present it to them. I don't need to be a scientist to do that."
"I know but—"
"Dr. Harris, I'm a trusted agent. And that's what I do, gather information and present it to the organization." Mary smiled confidently. "I can do it. And don't worry, I'm going to make it sound like you guys are really doing a good job here."
Dr. Harris regarded her coldly. "We are doing a good job, Ms. Jaleski. I think you can see how much progress Project Crescent is making. The clones are doing fine and developing the perfection they are meant to have. We are close to achieving our goals!"
Much to my dismay. Mary thought secretly. "Exactly. So, when's the report?"
Dr. Harris raised her eyebrows. "What makes you think you are the one doing it?"
"Because I'm an experienced agent and I'm taking this job if I want to." Mary replied. "Anyway, you should be thankful I'm actually volunteering for the job. I bet none of the other scientist would want to go present a report to the organization."
Dr. Harris sighed. "Fine. They're expecting the report by Tuesday. I'm going to give you some notes and you should study it before you present it, okay? I want them to know how successful this Project is."
"Um, where am I going to meet them, anyway?" Mary asked uneasily.
"Ah, yes. Their office is located a couple of miles away from here. Don't worry, someone will drive you there."
Mary almost jumped for joy. This is her chance. Her chance to make it up to the Amys. Her chance to find out who this organization people are…and how to stop them.
Tasha Morgan couldn't believe what had happened in the past few weeks. The Project got Amy, and Eric is still pretending to be that Marcus Summers guy. Not to mention that she was still held captive in the labs of Project Crescent. Her parents, who were away on vacation, are going back in a couple of weeks. They had told Nancy Candler to take care of Tasha and Eric while they're away. Boy, Mom and Dad are going to freak when they learn about this. Tasha thought.
"I can't believe you gave them our house number Eric. I mean, did they actually believe you're Marcus Summers the agent?" Tasha asked incredulously.
"Yes, well…at least the guard did. He let me in. And that's a good thing. I can help Amy that way." Eric rationalized.
"Yeah, and what happens when the real Marcus Summers shows up? What then?" Tasha asked.
"Then I'm dead. But that's not going to happen. And, anyway, it was Mary's idea." Eric muttered. "And this is to help Amy, remember?"
"And exactly how is pretending to be an agent going to help Amy?" Tasha asked again, getting more and more frantic by the second.
"Tasha, calm down." Eric mumbled. "We'll get through this okay?"
"Eric, it's not easy to believe that! Here we are, trapped in this stupid lab for weeks. I should be going crazy by now!" Tasha felt like screaming.
"Why didn't they release you, anyway? I thought they were going to let you go once Amy comes here." Eric asked.
"That's what I thought." Tasha said grimly. "So what else is new? They lied. They're using me to make Amy cooperate in those experiments. Amy said she'd cooperate once they let me go, but the scientists won't believe her. Just wait till Mom and Dad comes back and learns about this. They're going to snap."
"I'm sure they're going to sue them, too. This is illegal." Eric added.
"You noticed." Tasha said sarcastically.
For once, Eric ignored Tasha's sarcasm and focused on things instead. He keeps wondering what would happen in the next couple of weeks. Amy said she has a plan…but she better be done with her plan before his parents come back. Before this whole situation turn into a lawsuit.
Amy Candler talked to the other clones. It was easy, since there were only five of them now. The other seven weren't able to show up for the experiments. There was only Amys Number Two, Number Four, Number Five, Number Nine and Amy Candler---Amy number Seven.
All of them agreed to cooperate with Amy. Except Amanda Chrysler, number nine.
"You are insane, Amy." Amanda said, shaking her head. "Do you really think you can beat this people? Reality check, Amy. They may not be superior clones like us, but they're powerful too—in a sense."
"What is more insane, Amanda? Staying here and let them use you to take over the world? Or trying to stop them and escape back into a normal life you once had?" Amy asked in a challenging voice.
"I never had a normal life, Amy."
"Then this is your chance to have one!" Amy almost screamed. "Amanda, please. You have to understand how important this is. Don't you see? They're just using us to take over the world!"
"God, Amy. What makes you so sure about that? In case you'd like to know, the Project's goal is not to take over the world." Amanda rolled her eyes, as if Amy was being stupid. "Don't be silly."
"Oh, yeah? Then what is?" Amy shot back. "What's the goal of this project?"
"Amy, the scientists are just experimenting with human genes. Seeing what they can do with it. Seeing if they can make humans better. It's for the benefit of mankind, Amy."
Amy gritted her teeth. "If this is for the benefit of mankind, then why is it so secret?"
"Simply because the Project doesn't want attention. Not yet, anyway." Amanda shrugged, like it was no big deal. It was really getting on Amy's nerves.
"Would you listen to me?" Amy was having a hard time in keeping her voice down. "I know this, okay? I know what the Project's real goal is!"
"Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?" Amanda said in a challenging voice that really annoyed Amy.
"Because the former scientists themselves told me!" Amy blurted out, hardly controlling herself.
Amanda chuckled. "Those people? And what makes you sure they're telling the truth? What makes you sure you're believing the right thing? What makes you sure you can trust them, anyway? You don't really know them."
Amy opened her mouth to retort, but no sound came out. She was suddenly of loss of words. She pondered over Amanda's question…what did make her so sure those people were telling the truth? Dr. Jaleski…Mr. Devon…Dr. Hopkins…Amy's own mother, Nancy….
What does Amy really know about them? What really made Amy think they're telling the truth? Could she really trust them?
Amy tried to push those thoughts out of her mind and glared at Amanda instead. "What made you think you're believing the right thing? What made you sure you're not the one being fooled?"
"Because I've been in this Project longer than any other clone had…and I know more about it than you and those former scientists does. In case you'd like to know, your mother and her friends don't know everything about the project. And, to be blunt, they're not exactly the smartest people in the world." Amanda chuckled.
Amy wanted to scream. "Listen, Amanda. This is not about them, okay? This is about us. Admit it, Amanda, you don't want to stay here and be experimented on for the rest of your life, do you? You want to escape, right? You want to end this go back to your old normal life. Am I right?"
Amanda didn't answer.
"Am I right?" Amy yelled. "Amanda, please, open your eyes. They're using you, you understand? They're using you for their little plots and goals. And I'll have you know, you have every right in the world to do what you want and have a normal happy life! They don't own you. You're a human being too, you know!"
"I can't have a normal happy life, Amy." Amanda said coldly, a strange blank expression on her face. "And you know why? Because I'm not a normal human being! I'm a clone, Amy. A clone. A clone genetically engineered by these scientists years ago. I don't have a normal life, Amy. I'm a clone!"
With that, she started crying. "All my life, Amy, all my life, the only thing I wanted was to be a normal kid. To have a normal life. I wanted to get out of this damned laboratory. I wanted to escape. I tried. I tried a million times before. And guess what? Nothing happened, Amy, nothing! I'm still here, still a clone, still trapped in this stupid laboratory, still having a miserable pointless life, and still trapped in this stupid nightmare!"
Amy was taken aback. She didn't expect this. Not at all. She took a step forward.
"Now you see why I don't want to go with that little plan of yours? Now you see? What, you think you're going to make it? I'm telling you now, Amy, you're wasting your time." Amanda sobbed, covering her face and hiding her tears.
"Amanda…" Amy said tentatively, taking another step toward her.
"Go away." Amanda mumbled between sobs, she turned away. "Don't even try to make me feel better. Because I don't care. You hear? I don't care."
"Amanda, if you really want to end this nightmare…you can. Let's keep trying, okay? Let's keep trying. Now is not the time to give up." Amy said softly.
"That's what I said a hundred times before." Amanda snapped. "I kept believing I can make it. I kept hoping. I kept trying. And did I make it? No, I didn't! And I'm telling you, Amy, I'm tired of it. Okay? I'm freakin' sick of it!"
Amy bit her lip. "Amanda, I promise you one thing." She started, feigning confidence despite her own doubts. "We can get out of here. And we will. I promise you that. I'm not going to let you down."
"Sure, whatever." Amanda rolled her eyes and walked away, wiping the tears off her face.
Amy sighed and dropped on the soft couch behind her. She felt exhausted, not physically; a clone like Amy hardly gets tired. But Amy felt worn out. Maybe she was just a little overwhelmed by all these problems. It's just too much…
And now she's beginning to doubt her own plan…doubt her own hopes… Can she really do it?
Or is this just some phony hope she's holding onto? Maybe she's just fooling herself. Believing something that's never going to happen…
Amy shook her head. Stop it, Amy! She wanted to scream. Keep trying! This isn't the time to give up!
Amy wished she could believe her own words.