A/N: This one is a short one, but the next will be longer, promise. Besides, I thought a look into the mind of the bad man would be good preparation for some of the things I have planned. Anyway, if you haven't figured it out yet, I am soooo evil.
Her thirst not quite quenched, Sam sent one last glare at the offered kibble, and another at the cameras, trying to convey her displeasure. Finally, exhaustion took its toll, and Sam moved to the back of the cage, which was facing the wall, and curled into a tight ball, facing the doorway, before giving into sleep.
Chapter 30
The man sat in a semi-darkened room, hands folded, watching the display on a monitor with interest. He smiled in satisfaction as the actions of his latest acquisition proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that the reports he'd received about her were true. A human mind, trapped in the body of a cat.
He'd heard about the woman, the information smuggled to him by one of his informants in a high-ranking position. Blackmail could be a beautiful thing. The thrill he got from the power he held was always worth the price for the information. Even better was information he got free from those he controlled or had power over.
He'd been skeptical of the information at first, especially considering the sketchiness of details about how she'd ended up that way. Something about a top-secret military project that even his informant knew little about. Even after examining several small poor quality photographs and copies of confidential reports, he still doubted the veracity of the information. Those things could all have been faked. He didn't think they were, since the man who'd given him the information had a lot to lose by sending him false tips, but it was still a lot to swallow.
Even so, he had not gotten to where he was today by being a cautious man. Willing to take the chance, he'd given the appropriate orders. A lot of money had been spent; after all she had been kept in a top-secret facility. There had been Hank and his covert team, as well as a low ranked airman inside the base, who'd passed on information to the informant. There were also the scientists he'd hired to examine and study her, to learn her potential. All and all, she was probably one of the most expensive things he'd ever purchased. Many details had had to be planned before he could implement her abduction, and he'd had to wonder at the time if she were just going to be another exotic animal for his collection.
But now he had her, and he was pleased to learn that his investment had paid off, as he watched her carefully examining her cage, the lock, and the room. There was an obvious intelligence in her movements and responses. Even if she didn't have the mind of a human, her coloring alone was nearly worth the money he'd paid out. She was truly unique, and he lived to possess the rare and one of a kind.
A slight smile played at his lips as he watched to looks of disgust play over her features as she examined the food he'd ordered be placed in the cage, and the toilet facilities. He had read all the reports, and knew what she was capable of, even limited to the confines of her current body. But he also knew that she would not be very willing to remain in his care, at least not at first, so he'd carefully planned all facets of her care. She would be shown at every possible point exactly who was in control. It was a lesson that she would have to learn very quickly, or she would be finding her situation most unpleasant.