Caged Alpha: Project Chimera

Chapter 5

Casey didn't stop at the front of the cage as everyone had anticipated. Instead, she made her way around the side, coming to halt beside him. "Hey, I'm Casey," she introduced herself with a small smile, though her voice wavered a little as she addressed him. Once again, no acknowledgment from him. Now that she was closer she could see how broken and battered his body really was and her heart broke. She knelt down on the floor beside the cage, only to hear a warning from General Armstrong echoing through the room. "Specialist Peterson, I strongly suggest that you rethink your position." "I accept the risks, sir," she reiterated in a firm tone, but in truth, she was terrified. "Can you hear me?" she asked in a serious tone, signing along as she spoke the words. She was beginning to worry in earnest now. What if she couldn't get him to communicate with her? What if he simply refused or didn't know how? What would they do to her? What would they do to him? In a desperate plea to any gods that might be listening, she begged in a heartfelt whisper, "Please! Give me something, or they'll kill us both."

With a shaky hand, she held her breath and reached her arm out, extending it a little way into the confines of the cage where she lightly knocked on the floor with her knuckles, hoping that the vibrations might catch his attention and cause him to acknowledge her at the very least. In a movement so swift she barely even saw it, he was on her. He'd lunged across the cage and grabbed her hand through the bars, pulling her arm in until her body was wedged tightly against them. His face was only inches away from hers as he whispered into her ear, "Get me out," almost inaudibly, before he released her.

She tumbled back, falling to the floor and shuffling backward as she clutched her hand to her chest, gasping for breath as a soldier came to her aid, pulling her further away from the cage while another accosted Subject 5 from the other side with the cattle prod once more. "Wait! Stop! I'm fine! I'm fine!" She yelled, hearing the crack of the electricity and the familiar grunts and groans of pain from Subject 5.

General Armstrong chuckled with an expression of delight on his face as he clapped his hands. "Excellent work, Specialist Peterson! That's excellent work," he beamed. "It's not the feedback we were hoping for, but it's a step in the right direction. Keep going," he ordered. Casey was still panting on the floor, trying to regain her composure after the unexpected confrontation. Had she heard what she thought she had heard? There was no way that could have been a hallucination, right? Casey decided to play it cool for the moment, not ready to share what she had heard with General Armstrong just yet.

She rose to her feet and dusted off her fatigues before moving towards the cage once more. Subject 5 had resumed his position in the middle of the cage. Once again his head was bowed, but his breaths were still heavy and labored following his run in with the cattle prod. She knelt beside the cage once more and asked in an authoritative voice, "Do you know why you're here?" Once again, he gave no indication of a response nor even an acknowledgment of the question. She tried again. "What's your name?" she asked now, her tone curious and interested. Again, no acknowledgment from Subject 5. She let out a deep breath and shuffled a little closer to the bars, nervously wrapping her fingers around them.

His head snapped up as soon as she made contact with the cage and his eyes locked onto her, fixed and focused on her every move. They reminded her of molten chocolate as she suddenly got lost in their depth. He broke the intense gaze as his eyes shifted behind her, over her shoulder, then to the other side of the cage, then back to her. She realized he was looking at the armed guards, the one who had pulled her to safety earlier and the other who had jabbed him with the cattle prod. She released her grip on the bars and, still sitting, turned to the General saying, "Sir, you need to call these men back," gesturing at the two soldiers."Peterson, these men are here for your protection," he insisted firmly. "Sir, I understand the risks. If you want Subject 5 to communicate, you need to call these men back," Casey pressed, her words sounding more confident and measured than she felt.

General Armstrong groaned and thought for a moment. "They aren't leaving the room," he relented, signalling for the two men to resume their positions behind the line. They swiftly complied, returning to their posts as they flanked the General behind the line. As if on cue, Subject 5 looked up at Casey once again.

He sighed, relief and despair seeming to flood his senses simultaneously. "I'm Casey," she repeated herself. He remained silent, but he began to pull himself to his feet. Casey watched as he rose. He was completely naked, any semblance of dignity having been stripped from him, as if he truly was some kind of animal. To his good fortune, it seemed likely that he was more well endowed than most of the men in this room. This was confirmed when Casey averted her gaze and inadvertently glanced at the other men in the room, who all seemed to be shifting uncomfortably, including General Armstrong. Casey couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips as a result of the revelation. Her eyes wandered back to Subject 5 who remained in the middle of the cage still, standing now as he stared at her. His posture was one that exuded strength and authority, which Casey wouldn't have anticipated from a man in a cage.

With slow and deliberate movements, she too, rose to her feet. Subject 5 appeared to be a good head taller than her, maybe more, and his lean, muscular frame was intimidating and imposing. "Can you hear me?" she asked, pointing at her lips as she spoke and then finishing by cupping her ear as she tried to use universal gestures he would likely be able to understand. He shook his head, the gesture almost exaggerated. "Well there you have it!" General Armstrong exclaimed, "The bastard is deaf!" he added with a wry chuckle.

Casey wrapped her fingers around the bars once more and he took a tentative step forward. "Casey," she said, emphasizing the syllables as she pointed at her chest. Then she pointed at him with a questioning look. He took another tentative step forward. He was only a step away from her now, the bars the only protection she had from him were he to turn on her. His response was a look of confusion and a shake of his head. "He's Subject 5, Peterson, don't waste your time asking him stupid questions," the General chided her. It gave her an idea though. "Sir, I need paper and a pen. And if you could provide me with a list of questions you'd like me to ask him, that would be helpful," Casey explained, turning her attention to the General as she spoke. While she was speaking, Subject 5 had taken another step forward, bridging the gap between them. "Peterson, get out of there!" she heard General Armstrong shouting from across the room, but beneath his frantic shouting she heard a gruff whisper. "Brennan," it said.