The Blue People:
I found out what Dr. Adriana had been pushing with Lydecker about a week after the final E&E run. She was conducting experiments on osteo-regeneration -- which included procedures like breaking the arms and legs of the X5s.
I started noticing the glaring white casts appear sporadically on the X5s in mid-September. By October 1st, 2008, they all had some sort of cast. Amazingly enough, they seemed to accept this experiment just as they had accepted the others; it was just another aspect of Manticore life. But then again, my guess would that they just didn't know what was going on.
It was another late night for me. Building repairs and winter preparations were just wrapping up, which meant I was buried in a pile of paper work. Trust me, anyone would jump if a little nine-year-old popped up beside you from out of nowhere!
"Hey, Max." I said, once my heart rate had returned to normal. She just looked at me, not quite ready to start talking yet.
"You've gotta stop sneaking up on me -- I'll have a heart attack." Her eyes widened, she must've taken me seriously.
"No, don't worry Max, I didn't mean I really would." Sometimes I wondered what these kids thought of 'real' people.
"So, who's your friend?" I indicated to the slightly smaller girl next to her. 'Come on, talk to me Max.' I pleaded in my head.
"This is Jondy." A quiet reply, but a reply. I was glad, though; she had finally started trusting me enough to speak more freely. The littler girl smiled slightly. I noticed then that they both had casts on. Max's came up to her knee and Jondy's went to her elbow.
"What happened? You two up late again sparring and break each other's bones?" I teased lightly, forgetting again that they didn't understand teasing. I just wanted a little more info, to get the real story. Both their eyes widened, their bodies tensed. It looked like they were about to bolt. 'Please, don't run. I only just got you to talk to me,' I thought. I tried to make a calming gesture and keep my expression neutral. Max finally ventured a response.
"They broke our bones?" She was evidently not expecting that one.
"Well, yes. That's why you're wearing the cast -- so the bones heal
correctly." Jondy and Max looked at each other, eyes still wide. I ventured another question, hoping they would stay and answer.
"What happened, exactly?"
"We don't really know," Jondy piped up -- she glanced at Max, the two seemed to come to some sort of mental understanding, or agreement. For whatever reason, they continued the story:
"They took us to Sector 9, strapped us to the table."
"They put a needle into my arm and after that I couldn't feel anything."
"Wait, who's they?" I broke in.
"The Blue People" they both said, simultaneously.
"And who are the Blue People?" I asked, a confused expression on my face I'm sure. The girls exchanged another glance.
"They're the people in the blue-white, full body suits in the helmets with the blue visors over their eyes -- in Sector 9." Max explained this in a tone that asked 'shouldn't you know that?' I just nodded, slowly.
"They only ever appear when we're strapped to the table. Usually it's just the doctors in the white lab coats," Jondy chimed in, as if this was common knowledge. I nodded.
"Okay, and what did these . . . Blue People do?" Another exchanged glance. 'Can these two communicate mentally?' I wondered.
"We don't know exactly. All we can see is their eyes thru the blue visors."
"I felt my body jerk and saw a bloody saw being passed over me. Then I was back in Block 12 with this on my leg." I felt the blood drain from my face listening to that description. The girls exchanged a confused look. I tried to smile, I was just a little in shock -- and they were talking like this was an everyday event.
Max jerked her head towards the door, Jondy tensed. They'd sensed something. Then I heard the footsteps too. As suddenly as they had appeared, now they were gone.
Within four weeks, most of the casts had disappeared. By the end of six weeks, all the X5s were back to normal and back in training -- the first indoor E&E was already scheduled. Walking past Sector 9, I overheard Lydecker telling someone that, no, they could not start another series of tests -- they would have to wait until spring.
Just wanted to say thanks to all who have reviewed this story! I really appreciate it! To answer some questions, the half cat/half human may or may not be real... use your imagination. ;-) And some of the details came from Max's flashbacks, but the rest I made up. Please, keep reviewing! :)
I found out what Dr. Adriana had been pushing with Lydecker about a week after the final E&E run. She was conducting experiments on osteo-regeneration -- which included procedures like breaking the arms and legs of the X5s.
I started noticing the glaring white casts appear sporadically on the X5s in mid-September. By October 1st, 2008, they all had some sort of cast. Amazingly enough, they seemed to accept this experiment just as they had accepted the others; it was just another aspect of Manticore life. But then again, my guess would that they just didn't know what was going on.
It was another late night for me. Building repairs and winter preparations were just wrapping up, which meant I was buried in a pile of paper work. Trust me, anyone would jump if a little nine-year-old popped up beside you from out of nowhere!
"Hey, Max." I said, once my heart rate had returned to normal. She just looked at me, not quite ready to start talking yet.
"You've gotta stop sneaking up on me -- I'll have a heart attack." Her eyes widened, she must've taken me seriously.
"No, don't worry Max, I didn't mean I really would." Sometimes I wondered what these kids thought of 'real' people.
"So, who's your friend?" I indicated to the slightly smaller girl next to her. 'Come on, talk to me Max.' I pleaded in my head.
"This is Jondy." A quiet reply, but a reply. I was glad, though; she had finally started trusting me enough to speak more freely. The littler girl smiled slightly. I noticed then that they both had casts on. Max's came up to her knee and Jondy's went to her elbow.
"What happened? You two up late again sparring and break each other's bones?" I teased lightly, forgetting again that they didn't understand teasing. I just wanted a little more info, to get the real story. Both their eyes widened, their bodies tensed. It looked like they were about to bolt. 'Please, don't run. I only just got you to talk to me,' I thought. I tried to make a calming gesture and keep my expression neutral. Max finally ventured a response.
"They broke our bones?" She was evidently not expecting that one.
"Well, yes. That's why you're wearing the cast -- so the bones heal
correctly." Jondy and Max looked at each other, eyes still wide. I ventured another question, hoping they would stay and answer.
"What happened, exactly?"
"We don't really know," Jondy piped up -- she glanced at Max, the two seemed to come to some sort of mental understanding, or agreement. For whatever reason, they continued the story:
"They took us to Sector 9, strapped us to the table."
"They put a needle into my arm and after that I couldn't feel anything."
"Wait, who's they?" I broke in.
"The Blue People" they both said, simultaneously.
"And who are the Blue People?" I asked, a confused expression on my face I'm sure. The girls exchanged another glance.
"They're the people in the blue-white, full body suits in the helmets with the blue visors over their eyes -- in Sector 9." Max explained this in a tone that asked 'shouldn't you know that?' I just nodded, slowly.
"They only ever appear when we're strapped to the table. Usually it's just the doctors in the white lab coats," Jondy chimed in, as if this was common knowledge. I nodded.
"Okay, and what did these . . . Blue People do?" Another exchanged glance. 'Can these two communicate mentally?' I wondered.
"We don't know exactly. All we can see is their eyes thru the blue visors."
"I felt my body jerk and saw a bloody saw being passed over me. Then I was back in Block 12 with this on my leg." I felt the blood drain from my face listening to that description. The girls exchanged a confused look. I tried to smile, I was just a little in shock -- and they were talking like this was an everyday event.
Max jerked her head towards the door, Jondy tensed. They'd sensed something. Then I heard the footsteps too. As suddenly as they had appeared, now they were gone.
Within four weeks, most of the casts had disappeared. By the end of six weeks, all the X5s were back to normal and back in training -- the first indoor E&E was already scheduled. Walking past Sector 9, I overheard Lydecker telling someone that, no, they could not start another series of tests -- they would have to wait until spring.
Just wanted to say thanks to all who have reviewed this story! I really appreciate it! To answer some questions, the half cat/half human may or may not be real... use your imagination. ;-) And some of the details came from Max's flashbacks, but the rest I made up. Please, keep reviewing! :)