-Emily 835 and Sanshi 836-
The twins life in the academy is very simple, every day they wake at 0600 to shower and ready for their daily shots at 07:00, then to the exercise room for an hour of morning body training, then they finally get breakfast, morning classes, fighting classes, lunch, class, weapon training, class, dinner, free time then bed. The girls have been kept together since the beginning and have been given a room to share.
06:30 -Dragon Barracks-
Sanshi starts her morning as a responsible student. She woke up at 06:00 and has gotten showered and just needs to dress to be ready for the day. When she get to the room she finds that Emily still has not moved from bed. "Emily come on wake up, we can't be late again! I'm not doing extra laps just because you can't get your fat ass up out of bed!". Emily moans rolling over in bed. Sanshi irritated goes over and pinches her ear, "Get up now! You need to get showered and ready so we can get to the nurse station before we are late!". Emily reluctantly gets up throwing an angry glance over to Sanshi. "Why are you always so pushy? I was going to get up in a min or so and I am not fat!". Emily looks down getting up to greet the day. She stretches taking her time knowing it will only further anger her bossy sister Sanshi. "Emily . . . . GET IN THE SHOWER NOW!" Sanshi yells irritated, Emily giggles and rushes into the rubs the bridge of her nose trying to let go of her irritation as Emily gets showered and ready to head to the nurses station.
Everyday all the children in the facility head to the nurses station in their set pairs to receive the pills, shots, and/or check-ups their team of doctors have requested. This system was put in place to force the kids to be responsible and also no one gets left behind. Both girls will dress in the standard issue black suits with a color stripe signifying which class they belong to. Sanshi and Emily belong to dragon class so their stripes are a deep green color. Emily, finally ready, comes out. Emily and Sanshi were made partners designated by the matching yellow flag pins on their chests. "Come on Emily we better hurry. We're already running late," Sanshi looks at the clock her frustration growing as it's 06:56. They both run down the halls trying to get to the nurses station on time luckily there is a line at the station. A few of the younger kids from gorilla and wolf class were also running late.
"Hey Mike", Emily says to the shorter of the gorilla boys. "Hey Emily", he smiles,"making your sister late again". Sanshi rolls her eyes, "We are not late little Mike! We're on time thanks to you being late" she smirks. The larger gorilla boy David, who is already showing the increased hair growth in the face and body, looks at us, "Mike made us late again with is long bathroom break . . . He stopped in the middle of our run here this time. Took us 3 sectors in the wrong direction to use the bathroom. Honestly I don't know what to do with the kid". Sanshi looks at Mike again then to Emily, "Emily is no better she tries to sleep in everyday. Honestly Emily has it ever worked? Have they ever let us sleep in?" "It's worth a try! I am always so tired and those shots they give us make me feel weird," Emily says as the wolf boys enter the nurses station. "Again with this? Emily its for the future of the human race, we are going to become the evolved. We'll be soldiers that will be faster smarter and stronger than any human before. What's a little nausea compared to that," Sanshi says looking her prideful self. Mike looks at Sanshi and Emily, "What if the human race doesn't need this? What if all of this pain is for nothing," he says as the wolf boys rush out to head to their workout. The bigger gorilla boy grabs Mike by the shoulder, "Come on Mike it's our turn".
The two gorilla boys walk into the nurse's station leaving Emily and Sanshi alone. Sanshi looks up trying to be patient. The ceiling above simulates the the weather outside so that it doesn't feel like your underground, today is sunny with a few white puffy clouds. A beautiful day they won't get to actually enjoy, the thought makes Sanshi sigh. After about 10 mins the only Mike comes out of the nurse's office. Mike walks by the pin on his outfit changed to a different symbol. Emily sees Mike's face and asks, " What happened Mike? Where is David?". Mike takes a deep breath, "He is being transferred. Nurse Holly isn't here, she would never send David without me,"" all the kids know that once a kid is transferred you won't see them on this level again. the other comment about the nurse not being the same is the odd part. Sanshi asks, "Who is the nurse now?" reluctantly Mike looks at Sanshi, "Nurse Sarah I guess. I better get going, I am supposed to meet my new partner at the workout area. See you guys in class." Another student being transferred it seems that once a kid show signs of change they get transferred. Sanshi watches Mike run down the hall then turns to walk into the nurse's office.
Sarah sees and greets the girls, "Hello girls good morning State your names class and how are you both feeling today." Sarah sits at the computer waiting for the answers. Emily takes a seat in the left chair as Sanshi answers, "Sanshi 836 and Emily 835, Dragon class and I am feeling fine nurse Sarah." The names ring a bell in Sarah's mind, the twins she sent to dragon. They are both so big already. "How is Emily feeling this morning?" Sarah looks to the other girl who looks back. "I am fine but a little tired," Sanshi looks at Emily like she is some kind of alien thing. Sarah pulls up the charts and sees what is scheduled for the girls today. They are on the low dosage today . . . . but progress has been mostly non-existent.
Sarah overrides the codes and changes the dosage to high. "You both may feel a bit dizzy after today's shots so just take it easy during your workouts ok. I'm also going to request extra protein in your rations so be ready for that." We both sit and she straps us in like usual then gives us our injections. This time the shots burn as they enter our bloodstreams, Sanshi sucks in a breath while Emily yells. "It burns! Why does it burn! Stop STOP!" Sarah doesn't stop. She makes sure both girls take the full dosage, they are her test subjects and this class needs to start showing some results. Of her 15 subjects the last few years only 2 have survived all the injections and non have shown the ability to blow fire or fly properly. Emily passes out from the pain, Sarah can tell the Sanshi is fighting to stay awake the pain ripples through her features. "Don't worry Sanshi 836 the burning will stop soon, a few more minutes and you'll be back to normal," Sarah lays Emily down in the chair and puts a cold towel on her forehead. Another few seconds and Sanshi is out her body in shock from the pain. Sarah has seen this reaction many times before.
She looks over both girls looking for signs of negative reactions to the injections, things like pockets in the skin, hives, hair loss, and other painful side effects. After about 15 min she takes some smelling salts and puts them under the girls noses. Both shoot awake as they have before. Sanshi glares then looks away, "This was different, why was it so painful? . . . We're late for workouts." Emily looks up still in a daze she looks at her sister then back to Sarah. Sarah looks over the girl's, "alright, I'll give Captain Higgs a call and let him know you two need to skip morning workout today. You both should head back to your quarters after you eat these." She hands Sanshi two rationed meals. "How are you both feeling now? Any pain or discomfort?"
Emily speaks up, "I feel fine now . . . We really get to nap instead of the morning workout?" Sarah looks at Emily, she's always taken it easy here never really worried about what she needs to do or what is expected of her. It surprises Sarah since her twin sister is the polar opposite. Sanshi is a hard worker never missing an exam or failing a test no matter the subject. She speaks her mind with respect to others and has her heart set on the end goal of the facility. "Yes you can. Now off you go I have plenty of other students to see for the day. Come back if the dizzy feeling doesn't go away". Sanshi gets up and hold the meals to her side. She helps her sister out of the chair and they both leave the office. Their bodies feel sore from the pain and their legs are still wobbly, but they manage to make it back to their room.
Sanshi sets the meals aside for Emily to prepare as she lays down. This new injection, does it mean they will be transferred soon? All the subjects transferred showed signs of mutation, any idiot would notice that. But her and Emily have not shown any signs yet. Maybe that's why the shots changed . . . to push them along and, "Here is your breakfast Sanshi" Emily sets the breakfast on the table next to Sanshi. "You really shouldn't go into a daze like that, it makes you look crazy". Sanshi's train of thought broken she sits up, "Yeah yeah just because I have a brain and use it doesn't mean you get to pick on me". Emily doesn't realize it for a few seconds then snaps back, "What! I am not stupid you only seem smart because you do whatever these people tell you to do. Honestly you're like their little robot".
"Robot? what does that make you? A lazy good for nothing house cat". They both glare at each other for a few seconds then both laugh. "You really need to come up with some better insults," Sanshi says take the first few bites of their meal. Its delicious! Usually the meals here are standard MRE which are bland but nutritious, but this meal. This meal has actual beef with a sauce alongside the usual vegetable medley. "Wow this is really good! What is it called?". Emily grabs the original packaging and looks it over. The box is nothing more than a cardboard box with nothing written on it, "no idea. It's another one of those unmarked boxes". They both finish eating then try their best to take a quick nap. The rest of the day runs smooth other than a few looks from the other subjects since both girls missed the morning workout, but none of there looks bother the girls.
-The next day 0300-
While the girls were sleeping their bodies started to change. Scales began to form on the girl's arms and legs, and pain swells from the girl's shoulder blades. At the same time, Sanshi and Emily wake in bed. The burning sensation on their backs causing a rippling pain throughout their bodies. "E-emily . . . hit the . . hit the call button," Sanshi says weakly through gritted teeth. "Ok ok", Emily manages to get out as she rolls side to side in her bed trying to relieve the burning pain from her back. She manages to press the button which alerts the medical team assigned to them. It doesn't take long for Sarah, Captain Higgs, and the assigned medical team to arrive. Sarah flips on the light and immediately sees the beautiful scales that formed on the girls and smiles. She was right to change the dosage.
"Where is the pain? We can give you numbing shots" Sarah says while kneeling down beside Emily. By now Emily is in tears. The medical team starts taking what measurements they can while both girls fight the pain. "My back! My back is on fire!" Emily manages to get out. The medical team helps Sarah hold her still while she makes small injections in Emily's back. Sarah notices a mutation they hadn't seen before two small bumps on the back just over both shoulder blades. If these girls survive they may be the most successful warriors yet and if the mutation on the outside is this far along from the single high dosage, imagine how much further along the girl's internal mutations have gotten. The teams give the same shots to Sanshi who requires much less help in controlling. "What was that burning . . . Are we going to be alright?" Sanshi asks through quick breaths as the shots kick in relieving some of the pain. "You will both be fine Sanshi 836. These are just a few growing pains. I will give you both some pain meds that will help during the daily activities. Get back to sleep you both have a long day ahead of you" Sarah says jotting notes down in her log book. Sarah and Higgs head out into the hallway to talk.
"What is going on Sarah? We've haven't had one of our subject suddenly mutate like that for at least 6 years," he looks at her with a stern face she's still jotting notes down. "I gave the girls their usual dosage it did cause them some discomfort though. I am going to check in with my team and see if there was anything unusual in the batch I gave the girls" she replies not glancing up from her paperwork. Higgs looks away waiting for her to finish her note before continuing the conversation. She glances up, "was there something else on your mind Higgs?" He looks at her with his bulky military posture and his stern face, "If those girls die because of this . . . it will be your head. We are already losing military funding for the lost assets as it is. Now here you go risking more for what?" he shakes his head taking in a deep breath. "For science," she smiles at him, "Yes it's risky for the children but if this works, if I really have created totally new lifeforms. I mean just think of the possibilities! This is a truly exciting moment for me and my team, a few children in pain won't stop progress". Sarah says sternly looking up an the large captain, "Growing pains huh? If only they were truly only growing pains," he nods and heads off. Sarah watches him walk away thinking, is he suddenly growing a conscience about this?.