Rana Thanoptis's lab is cold and sterile, just like the Clone remembers. It makes her feel small, like a specimen on a Petri dish. In a way, that's exactly what she is. She's Hope Lillium's grand experiment, another expensive Cerberus investment she hopes will pay off. Today, Hope hedges her bets, having Rana inspect the Clone's implants to ensure they're working correctly.
Rana and Hope converse on the other side of the room. The Clone listens to their words, but they barely register over the hum of machines behind her.
"You're saying there seems to be something wrong with my work." Rana folds her arms defensively.
"There is something wrong with them. The clone can't differentiate between an attack and a pat on the back. Someone's bound to notice."
"I can't just replace the implants, you know. The effects would be catastrophic."
"Then fix them. I don't care how."
Something about the way they talk puts her on edge. They speak as if she can't hear them.
"Fine, fine. I'll just reroute some of the processing power to the subconscious centers." Rana starts across the room, then stops abruptly. She spins around, jabbing her finger in Hope's direction. "Stop whispering behind my back. I can hear you."
Hope's eyes widen, but she doesn't argue. "Of course." She follows behind Rana, watching the two of them closely.
The Clone holds still as Rana clamps her wrists and ankles down. She gasps in pain when Rana disconnects her biotic amp. Through the stars in her eyes, the Clone sees Hope frown.
"Was that really necessary?" Hope folds her arms.
Rana places the amp on a folded piece of gauze, next to a set of implements that look suspiciously like torture devices. Her implants all-too-readily supply violent yet effective means of employing such instruments. Not fucking helping, the Clone thinks to herself.
"I can't guarantee this won't hurt." Rana holds up something that looks like a dental drill, only the Clone notices two tiny needles for positive and negative current. It's connected to a machine that Rana has yet to activate.
She wants to be brave, but her body flinches against her will.
"It might go easier if you relax." Easier said than done.
Hope narrows her eyes, then walks over to the chair. She sweeps the Clone's growing hair out of her face, holding her cheek. Her thumb brushes her skin ever so slightly as Hope searches her eyes. "We're only doing this to make you the best." Then she whispers, "do you trust me?"
"With my life," she answers without hesitation. Hope closes her eyes, and the Clone follows, shivering ever so slightly as Hope's lips press against her other cheek. The needle pierces the back of her neck. She feels Hope squeeze her hand as the machine hums to life. Just as the Clone is about to squeeze back the current hits her implants.
Her world flashes white and she screams.
That night The Clone has her first nightmare.