Flug gently held Melanie's straitjacket straps and pushed her ahead of him down the hall. There were monochromatic white walls and blue-tiled floors with only silver lab doors to break up the monotony.
It didn't give the teenage girl much to look at, so she turned to thinking. She remained quiet worrying about Sadie, wondering why Black Hat and her Papi had left without giving her any information beforehand, and growing anxious about the video she was about to be subjected to.
Flug noticed the silence. Despite himself, he felt empathy for her fear and her pain. So, against his better judgment, he felt pressed to say something.
"Are you okay?" Flug asked.
"No," Melanie said. "Black Hat choked Sadie."
"She'll be fine," Flug reassured. "Black Hat has strangled me plenty of times. Every time, I have been able to regain the ability to breathe so I'm sure Sadie will too. Black Hat doesn't want her dead."
"Do you know what they're doing or where they're going?" asked Melanie.
"No, but it's nothing we need to be concerned about," Flug said. "If it is, Black Hat and Lord Reaper will tell us."
"Does Black Hat leave without telling you a lot?" asked Melanie.
"Black Hat often leaves for business," Flug explained. "He doesn't always tell me what he's doing, but he keeps me informed about what he's doing when I need to know about it. 505 and I can take care of things on our own, so it isn't a big deal. Is that all you're anxious about?"
"Well, I am scared about the video," Melanie admitted.
"I wouldn't bother making such a big deal of it," Flug said. "It's only one video."
"But I've never been brainwashed before," Melanie said. "I don't know what my mind will look like when I'm done watching the videos. Will I be myself? That's what scares me. I mean, what happened to the other kids you forced to watch these videos?"
"It varies from person to person," Flug said. "I wouldn't be too worried. Besides, how do you know your Nun-ja friends haven't done the same to you?"
"They were my friends! They'd never do that to me!" Melanie spat back as she phased through Flug's hands and walked ahead.
"Exactly what a brainwashed person would say," Flug said, catching up and grabbing onto her straps.
"Speak for yourself! Joining was my choice!" Melanie snarled back. "Watching these videos is not! You're the one forcing me to do something I don't want to! You're the one brainwashing kids!"
"Well, the way I see it, they were made better," Flug explained, placing his hand back on Melanie's shoulder so he could continue pushing her forward down the hallway.
Melanie glared at Flug, looked away, and said, "Of course, you would. Your opinion is too effed up to matter. Why do I even bother? You probably enjoy torturing kids for no reason. Just like Dr. Mengele."
"I guess you finally see that not everyone can be 'saved' as you Nunjas would try to do," quipped Flug. "At least, that's something."
"He was too stuck in his evil to repent," Melanie said. "He was a corrupted monster."
"While I don't quite agree with some of the ideologies, I can respect a fellow scientist who would do what needs to be done," Flug said.
"Dios Mio, you are making me sick!" Melanie yelled. "You actually look up to that monster?! What's wrong with you?!"
"In the field of science, you must stop viewing things from the perspective of morals that many of us were forced to grow up with and think from another perspective," said Flug. "That is one of many advantages that 'heroes' are kept from with their do-gooder attitude. And to be precise, I look up to Black Hat."
"I will never understand that either," said Melanie. "He's technically my grand-uncle, and I hate him."
"Well, family tends to be complicated, but Black Hat knows and has achieved more than anything I could ever know," Flug said with stars practically swirling in his eyes.
"You mean destroyed and stolen?" retorted Melanie. "Look, I know he tricked you into working for him and thinking that was your choice and that you want his approval more than anything, but you're better off not even bothering. Black Hat will never be satisfied."
Flug gripped her straps a bit tighter, growing a bit offended, as he said, "It was my choice."
"Sure, it was," Melanie said, flinching at the tight grip.
"And there you go," Flug said sarcastically. "How do you know it's not the other way around?"
"I chose to follow Jesus and the Nunjas with a clean conscience!" said Melanie flinching at his tightly gripping her straitjacket straps. "If it was your choice, you must have been desperate, power-hungry, or unimaginably stupid."
"It was none of those reasons," Flug said, gripping Melanie's straps even tighter. "I found an opportunity to work with the greatest villano, and I took it."
"Well, I still think you're an idiot!" yelled Melanie.
They stopped in front of a metal door.
Flug pressed buttons on a keypad that opened the door and he said, "We'll see about that. Won't we?"
Flug and Melanie walked through the door and entered a large room.
It looked like a large movie theater room with a projector hanging from the ceiling, a large screen on the front wall of the room, and many seats in front, except those seats all had restraints on them.
Melanie gulped at the sight of it.
"Not so snarky now, huh?" asked Flug, pushing Melanie inside and sitting her down in a seat. "Now, we can begin."
Flug strapped Melanie into the chair and was surprised when he heard Melanie speak again.
"So do not fear for I am with you," Melanie quoted from the Bible to hide the fear in her heart. "Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Annoyed, Flug pulled out the remote and pressed the button that released a small shock to her and pleaded, "Will you shut up for once?"
After releasing the button, Flug made his way to the computer on the wall at the side of the room to start the movie on the projector.
Despite her fear and her pain, Melanie began singing, "The selfish, they're all standing in line, faithing and hoping to buy themselves time! Me, I figure as each breath goes by, I only own my mind! I am mine!"
Flug looked up in surprise, said nothing, and sent another shock to Melanie.
"The North is to South what the clock is to time," Melanie continued singing shutting her eyes and bracing for pain both from Flug and the projector. "There's east and there's west and there's everywhere life! I know I was born, and I know that I'll die! The in-between is mine! I am mine!"
"Melanie, I said to be quiet!" Flug chided.
"You can't silence my voice," Melanie said defiantly. "You will never silence my voice!"
Flug paused working on the computer to set up the projector and moved to a close shrouded in darkness on the side of the room. From the darkness, he emerged with a muzzle.
Melanie's eyes flashed in a panic, and she asked, "What is that?"
Flug gave no response, only grabbing a hold of Melanie's head, pulling a muzzle over her mouth, and strapping it around her neck.
Melanie looked down in surprise to see that Flug had put the muzzle over her mouth. She glared at Flug and tried to yell at him, but hardly any sound came out. She tried to yell again and got the same result.
Flug walked away and muttered to himself, "Should've just done that from the beginning, but of course, your grandfather would have a problem with that."
Flug left Melanie to struggle while he finished setting up the projector.
Melanie tried screaming at the top of her lungs while Flug watched on amusedly from the side of the room.
"You hear that?" Flug asked with a wicked smirk underneath his bag. "Silence. Refreshing, isn't it?"
Melanie growled underneath her muzzle at Flug as he pressed the play button that started the film.
Flug picked up the remote to the projector, sat down with a notebook, on a chair a few seats away on the same row as Melanie, and said, "Enjoy the show. Look at the screen please."
Melanie looked at the screen and started watching.
Music box music began playing over a miniature town background.
It was clearly a Mr. Roger's knock-off. Melanie couldn't help but roll her eyes.
The music suddenly turned dark and creepy as a villain in a bad white wig and in a red sweater rode in on a streetcar, sniping everyone in his line of sight.
As soon as the car stops, the villain jumps off the streetcar and says, "Children, kindness is stupid."
Melanie raised an eyebrow and gave the screen and Flug an incredulous look.
"Focus on the screen, Melanie," chided Flug.
Melanie looked at the screen and the villain who said, "Why waste your time being kind to get what you want when you can just take whatever you want whenever you want? To those who may be watching this, you probably feel like you're trapped. Well, that's on the contrary, we're here to set you free!"
Melanie rolled her eyes and leaned her head back so that she was looking at the ceiling.
In doing so, Melanie received a quick shock with Flug only saying, "Focus."
Reluctantly Melanie looked back at the screen and continued watching. As the video went on, she thought if she just ignored it and thought about something else she probably wouldn't even hear the video. She just needed to space out enough.
Melanie looked forward and sank down in her chair as far as her restraints would let her go.
When Flug went back to taking notes, Melanie looked at her legs that weren't restrained. She then began doing leg lifts and focusing on her core strength while barely listening to the video in the background.
After a few minutes, Flug eventually noticed what Melanie was doing.
"You really know how to distract yourself. And waste my time," Flug chided.
With that, Flug pressed the button on the remote again.
After a few seconds of Melanie writhing in pain, Flug released the button and said, "I know you have severe ADHD, but please try harder to sit still."
Melanie glared at Flug and then reluctantly went back to watching the show, but she couldn't resist swinging her legs.
"Your ADHD gives you so much energy," Flug said with a sigh. "How will we learn to manage it?"
Flug turned away to keep taking notes in his notebook.
After a few minutes, when she was sure Flug wasn't looking, Melanie let her eyes shut and listened to the video.
As soon as he noticed, Flug paused the projection, walked down to Melanie, shook her shoulder to get her to look at him, and leaned down until he was at her level.
"I'm giving you one final warning, Melanie," Flug said. "If you don't stop trying to distract yourself from the video, there are going to be serious consequences."
Flug then pressed some buttons on his watch to show a screenshot of Rob the Glitch in a straitjacket like Melanie was, but his eyes were forced open while Flug put drops in his eyes.
Melanie's eyes widened in panic.
"I've been trying to be lenient, Melanie, but I will do whatever it takes," said Flug.
The scientist could see Melanie's jaw trying to move slightly. She was saying things, but Flug wasn't sure if he wanted to listen.
However, given his curiosity, Flug eventually did, undoing the muzzle just enough to let Melanie speak.
"I said, what does it matter?" Melanie began. "You're just wasting your time. All of you are. Even if I were selfish enough to let you sacrifice Sadie and make me do all the bad things you want, I won't change."
Flug redid the muzzle around Melanie's mouth and said, "I'm not asking you to do that right now. I'm asking you to watch the video before I am forced to use clasps on your eyelids. I will if I have to. Do you want that to happen?"
Melanie looked at Flug and began shaking with pleading eyes.
"Now, will you sit still and watch the video?" Flug asked.
Melanie took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
"Okay," Flug said, exiting out of the photo and standing up again. "I'm going to start the video over again. This time, please do your best not to cause disruptions."
Melanie's eyes flashed in a panic before she looked at Flug and nodded sadly.
Melanie watched the show bored yet quiet. It seemed Flug's warning worked. Besides kicking her legs, Melanie didn't take her eyes off the video. She sat there quietly until the video had ended.
Once the video had ended, Flug walked over and removed the muzzle.
"There," Flug said. "Now, was that really…?"
"Yes!" Melanie interrupted immediately.
Flug sighed. Her continued rebellion might have frustrated him and made him pity her, but her giving in was making him loosen up a bit.
Flug tossed the muzzle aside towards the table where the desk was and said, "Well, that wasn't so bad. Was it? Now, I need you to answer some questions about the video and then I'll think about letting you have dinner with your friend. Okay?"
Melanie nodded without saying a word.
Flug walked over to the desk, picked up a clipboard, walked back over, and said, "Okay, we are going to take this questionnaire. You answer the questions to the best of your ability, and I'll write down your answers for you. Alright?"
Melanie simply nodded again.
"Alright, Melanie," said Flug. "Let's begin."
"Wonderful," Melanie said sarcastically.
"For starters, how about you give a brief summary of what you saw?" asked Flug.
"There was a crazy sniper guy who kept running around and telling people that kindness is stupid," said Melanie.
"Well, yes, very good," Flug said, writing down her answer on the questionnaire.
Melanie hmphed and looked away.
"Do you think you can explain why?" asked Flug.
"Because the man in the video is stupid and thinks that nothing good comes out of being kind," replied Melanie.
Flug said with a sigh, "Melanie, he gave reasons for saying kindness is stupid. Could you list one of the reasons so we can move on to the next question please?"
"He said it was because it doesn't benefit you in any way which is totally wrong," Melanie replied defiantly.
"Next question," Flug said annoyedly while writing down her answer. "How should you apply this information to your life?"
"I don't plan on it," Melanie retorted.
"Melanie, I said how should you, not how you want to," Flug said patiently. "Please?"
Melanie sighed and said, "Just take what you want, and don't show kindness like the evil sniper said?"
"Exactly," Flug said, writing down her answer. "Do you think I got where I am by being kind? Of course not. I learned very quickly that if you want something, then you must do what you can to take it."
"Yet you're still trying to be kind to me," noted Melanie. "Are there any other questions?"
"Name an extraneous detail," Flug said.
"At the beginning of the video, the main character was sniping people on a streetcar," Melanie answered.
"Good enough," Flug said. "The questionnaire is over."
Flug had walked away to file the questionnaire when Melanie asked a question.
"Why do you want to be so lenient towards me? Do you care about me?" asked Melanie.
Flug looked back at Melanie, put on his cold demeanor, looked back at her, and said, "In a professional manner, yes. You are an asset to your parents and to us and we can't lose you. Emotionally, I can't get involved."
Melanie gave him a knowing smirk and said, "So, you do care, but you are not allowed to say so?"
Flug paused. He was surprised and admittedly pleased that she could see through him, so he thought he could explain it analytically.
"Yes, believe it or not, I am capable of feeling concern for my students," Flug said, crossing the room to Melanie. "In your case, you are a hero. It's true, but I still see you as my student."
"But I thought you hated heroes," Melanie replied.
"I usually do, but you're a different case," Flug said, taking a seat in the chair next to her. "You're not like the heroic brats I usually encounter. More or less, you remind me of myself at your age except with some differences like your ADHD. And I hope you understand that just because you claim to be heroic doesn't mean I wouldn't want you to get better."
"Like this is making me better," Melanie said, looking down at her straitjacket before remembering what Flug said. "Wait. I remind you of you. How? I'm nothing like you."
"When I was your age, I was taken from my home and forced to attend the Institute," said Flug, looking over at Melanie warmly. "At first, I didn't want to be there. I just wanted to go home. But then, I realized that being in the Institute was the best thing for me. I understand how you feel, Melanie, but being here is best for you. I want you to understand that, too. Soon, I think you will."
Melanie looked away thoughtfully and said, "Okay, I guess we have a few things in common, but we still aren't that much alike."
"No?" Flug said. "If you believe that to be the case, then so be it. But please know I do find your empathy a bit admirable and cute. If only, it was better managed."
"I think I manage it just fine," Melanie replied.
Flug moved over to the seat on the other side of Melanie so that she was forced to look at him and asked with a sigh, "Melanie, didn't you understand the moral of the video you just watched?"
"Yeah, don't be nice, and if you want something, take it," said Melanie, clearly missing Flug's point. "So, tell me more about yourself. Were you a rebellious kid who wanted to forge his own path too? How do you manage your empathy? You have some left."
"I stopped trying to fight pointless causes," Flug said. "The point of the video and everything else I'm doing is that you need to do the same thing."
"So, is that what you're going to do to me? Make me give up?" Melanie asked angrily, leaning over but being held back by her restraints. "Is that what you did to Rob the Glitch?"
"Is it really giving up if it's just not being foolish?" asked Flug, calmly defusing her anger.
"I don't see how it wouldn't be," Melanie reasoned. "The other option is picking my battles, but if it were up to you, I wouldn't fight any battles. I'd be a dead drone. Just like you."
"Words spoken by a scared, misguided child," Flug said, leaning on the armrest between them.
"But I'm not wrong. Am I?" asked Melanie with a glare toward Flug. "I have every reason to be scared and not to trust you."
"Maybe what you're scared of, is the truth," said Flug.
"I know the Truth!" Melanie exclaimed. "I know His wisdom and that of my teachers! Besides, that's a fine but overly obvious manipulation tactic, dude. I know what the Truth is. No one who says they care but straitjackets you and straps you into a chair and forces you to watch boring short films to brainwash babies can be trusted."
"I would think they would take extra precaution to keep the unruly from being out of control, so they can be reasoned with," Flug said.
Melanie rolled her eyes. "Are we done now? Can I go back to my room and/or see Sadie again?"
"Melanie, you're being unreasonable," Flug said.
"You're the one being unreasonable," Melanie retorted.
"I'm the one who continues to show you mercy, and even have a semblance of faith in you," Flug said.
"Your being nice to me doesn't mean I have to conform to what you want," Melanie said, leaning towards him against her straps. "You should be kind to someone because you feel for them and it's the right thing to do. Not because you have faith in my fragility."
"Did you forget that empathy is a weakness?" Flug asked.
"You show it enough to care for 505," Melanie pointed out.
"Let me rephrase that," Flug said, getting to his feet and standing in front of Melanie. "Too much empathy is a weakness. You have to learn to manage it properly. I think you will. I do not have faith in your fragility, Melanie. I have faith that you will get better."
Melanie looked up at Flug and replied, "So do I."
Flug chuckled and said, "Well, thank you, Melanie. I feel like I get closer to perfection every day."
"That's not what I meant," Melanie replied, rolling her eyes at the obvious Dad joke. "Will you let me out of this chair now? Woah!"
Melanie fell forward, phasing through the chair's straps before falling over onto the floor.
"I hope you did that unintentionally," Flug said with his arms crossed.
"Yes and no," Melanie said, struggling to get to her feet without the use of her arms. "I was trying to phase through the straitjacket."
Flug shocked Melanie again for her disobedience. Melanie screamed and writhed on the floor until Flug released the button.
"I thought you cared about me," said Melanie between painful gasps for air.
"How caring of a teacher would I be if I didn't enforce discipline?" asked Flug as he got to his knees and started helping Melanie get back on her feet. "I guess we're done here for now. 505 will get you to your room and get you out of that straitjacket."
"But what about Sadie?" asked Melanie regaining her footing.
"Hmm?" asked Flug.
"You said you'd consider letting me be with Sadie," said Melanie. "Please?"
Flug thought for a moment and remembered what he had promised her earlier.
Under normal circumstances, Flug would say no. But since he was in charge and had nothing else to reliably occupy her time and he felt a little sorry for her, he decided to relent.
"Alright, you can have dinner and visit with your friend," agreed Flug.
"Really?" Melanie asked, summoning her wings and flying off the ground excitedly.
"Yes," Flug answered. "But under a few conditions…"
