The next thing I was aware of was a sharp stabbing pain that was coming from my forehead. Without opening my eyes I lifted my right hand and rubbed my forehead, hoping that it would go away. Instead, it flared up and I yelped. That's when I heard someone speak.
"Looks like she's awake. I'll go get Forge." Even with my eyes closed I recognized the voice. My eyes shot open as I sat up suddenly but owner of the voice had already left to get 'Forge', whoever that was. That's when the light hit me and I groaned, holding both hands this time against my head.
"Ow. What hit me? A truck?" I asked the blonde woman standing next to me as I silent hoped my head wouldn't split in two.
"More like the Ultimate Elementor. Not the best idea to face it head on. I'm Katherine Ryan but everyone calls me 'Kat'." She said as I let go of my head.
"I'm Jessie. So that monster's an Elementor'? Whoa, my day just got weirder. Where am I exactly? " I asked looking around. Instead of answering me, Kat stepped back and an older man stepped forward. He looked like he was in his early or late forties, it was hard to work out. However he was clearly in charge.
"N-Tek." He said as he looked down at me.
"What's that?" I asked him and went to stand up. Swinging my legs off of the couch I was lying on, I stood up and almost fell on my face. Feeling like I was going to pass out again I reached out a hand to steady myself as my eyes closed. Someone grabbed me and pushed me back against the couch. "Whoa, bad idea." I muttered as the room spun.
"Two bad moves in one day. I'm impressed." Said the voice from earlier. I opened my eyes to find a young guy, in his late teens staring back at me, a slight smile on his face.
"I'm glad you find this so amusing." I growled slightly as he helped me back to the couch. He just laughed and I glared at him.
"Kids behave yourselves." The older man spoke up as I sat there. "I'm Forge Ferrus and as you can probably see I'm the one in charge around here. Your 'sparring partner' here is Roberto Martinez but everyone around here calls him Berto. He's the one who brought you here after you passed out. I have to get back to work so he can show you around." He said and walked away, followed by Kat. Before she walked away, Kat gave me an amused smile.
"So you're the one who spoke to me before. From a robot. Who, by the way, let me get attacked by a monster." I pointed out and he rolled his eyes.
"Actually I tried to warn you about it. You walked right into it yourself. Oh and by the way, the robot's name is C.Y.T.R.O." He pointed out as I again tried to stand . This time the pain in my head had subsided to a dull ache which I ignored for the time being. Once I was back on my feet I started to walk past him.
"Where are you going?" He asked as I brushed past him.
"How should I know? I don't even know where I am." I said with a shrug. Truth be told I was feeling a little overwhelmed. " And before you say 'N-Tek' I get that. But where is that? And what come to think of it" He frowned as walked over to me.
"Wow you must have really been hit hard if you don't know. We're in Copper Canyon." He explained.
"Sorry not ringing any bells. " I replied and he scratched his chin.
"Maybe you should start by telling me everything you remember." He said and I nodded. He started walking along a corridor and I fell into step beside him. Taking a breath to steady myself, I told him everything that I could remember :from the moment when I woke up in the canyon right up until I passed out and woke up here. The instant I finished speaking he asked me question.
"Are you kidding me?" Shocked by this, I could only stare at him in amazement. Eventually I found my voice.
"What the heck do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice raised as he shook his head. He folded his arms against his chest. "Come on, you just happen to show in Copper Canyon and to stumble across Ultimate Elementor, who we haven't been able to find for weeks now. Then you pretend to have no idea how you ended up there. " He said and I just stood there.
Moments later he was following me this time. Mad, and a little hurt, I had stormed out and now he hurried to catch up. As I raced along I noticed several people walk past in white lab coats. Must be other employees, I thought to myself.
"Hey wait up! What did I say?" He asked and I spun around, almost slamming into him.
"You did pretty much call me a liar to my face and did nothing but stand by and let me be attacked. How's that?" I growled, causing him to cringe. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that several of them had stopped working and were now watching us. I chose to ignore them.
"Yeah, okay. Lo siento." Berto said suddenly, probably realizing that we now had gained an audience.
"You're sorry?." I muttered and he raised an eyebrow.
"You understood me? Wait you speak Spanish?" He asked and I actually grinned at him.
"One or two words I know. Mainly what I've heard on TV or read in books anyway. " I replied and he smiled back at me. "I guess I can forgive you. Besides you still owe me a tour of N-Tek and I'm kind of curious about this 'C.Y.T.R.O' that you mentioned before. Lead the way." With a smile he signaled for me to follow him. As we walked I noticed the white tablet he was holding. It resembled one of those Tablet PC's. Before I time to ask about it Berto announced that we were here.
"Where's here exactly?" I asked him and he waved me towards the huge white and green door a few meters in front of me. I looked it up and down and, after finding no visible doorknob, I turned back to him. Berto just waved me on through. With a shrug I stepped forward, thinking I was about to slam face first into the door. To my surprise the door slid open the instant I moved forward and I found myself inside. Standing just inside the room, my jaw actually dropped in amazement.
"Welcome to my lab." Berto announced.