The Clutzy Kid

There was a cool object placed on her temple, her lower lips trembled slightly as she groaned, and her eyelid started opening. "Doctor Marlowe, the ten-year-old subject is awakening..." A voice... No... more voices were crowding all around her. "Double the dosage." A sharp sting on her right shoulder sent in fluids that blackened her view. Her mind swirled, and the disorientation caused her to react violently. She could feel her hands fighting a bigger pressure struggling to keep her still. She didn't have control over her legs either. They kicked violently while she began foaming in the mouth. Panicked screams and a door getting broken through were the last thing she could comprehend before her breath ceased, and she found herself traveling back to the darkness within her memories. Suddenly, she was six, and her family were relocating once again to their city. A city where legacy never died. "Welcome to Nexaris," the computerized voice transcended and cut across the whole area, "where anyone can be a Legend." Their vehicle floated through the holographic billboard. Suzanne's little jaw dropped as a massive vehicle hovered over theirs — making her father's sleek aerocar seem bit-sized in comparison. It whizzed right by leaving a tinge of static discharge crackling blue electricity behind the fascinated six-year-old's face pressed against the window. "Whoaaa!" She gaped in amazement, flashing her gap teeth as she did so. Soren reached for his little sister and tugged her back into her seat and snapped her previously undone buckle shut once again. "Suzanne, don't kneel on the seat like that, it's dangerous. Stay seated!" He then turned to his right where her twin was seated, the little boy's seatbelt still strapped thankfully, yet bobbing about and trying to lean forward into the front seat to be squeezed amongst their parents. Soren hissed under his breath as he yanked him back, "No, no, get back here! I've told you that you can't stay in the front!" "Lemme aloneee!!" Suzanne's twin was howling as he tried to wiggle out of his brother's hold. "Nooo!!" Their mother chuckled slightly as she glanced back to where her oldest was struggling to keep the little ones in check — "Are you doing alright back there, guys?" Suzanne grinned widely, a stark contrast to her twelve-year-old elder brother's frown of exasperation. "No!" "Yes!" The light excitement of her younger self rang as if in a spiral around her head and echoed back and forth like a bell growing louder by the minute. When her sensory awareness was revived by yet a new needle stabbed into her upper right shoulder, she could feel someone frantically tugging at her left hand, and hear screams. Agonizing screams. Everywhere... Everyone... Loud voices overlapping each other. Suzanne stirred once more on the cold steel operating table and fluorescent overhead lights assailed her eyes the moment she tried to open them. Her hands felt heavy and she couldn't rub her eyes, so instead she slightly turned her head to take in what was happening around her with a squint. Teenagers bearing the crest of Legend Force were already tearing through the room, throwing punches at the fleeing lab coats. "Get them all!" The leader of the squad thundered with a fierce frown as he sharply elbowed one of the lab researchers that tried to scuttle past. He had the keenest of blue eyes. Suzanne felt them familiar so her gaze lingered. As if sensing her stare, the seventeen-year-old turned to her and managed a comforting smile as he walked towards her. "Hello, Suzanne." Suzanne's lips remained sealed as she watched him undo the metal clasps restraining her hands on the table. "Forgive me, for being late," he murmured solemnly and watched the bruises caused by the clasps with a hooded look. He rubbed them slightly as if willing them to disappear underneath his touch. "Aston!" His female squad-mate called urgently, causing him to look up from Suzanne's wrist. "Yes?" "Doctor Marlowe is not here." His grim look returned. "Suzanne, stay here with Ruth," he gestured to the female teammate, "Don't worry, everything will be okay. I'll make sure of it." Despite his growing anger at the situation, his lips curved upwards slightly as he lightly bopped Suzanne's nose and patted her hair. Aston then swore underneath his breath as he promptly stood up, barking instructions once again, "Tell Kelvin to survey the premises and search for more of those they intended to run tests on, I'll get the bastard myself!" "Wait-!" Ruth tried to stop him, but he dashed out of the operating room. She helplessly looked towards the door, then back at Suzanne again, before taking a deep breath and walking to sit by her side instead of awaiting the requested backup from Headquarters as they were instructed to do. "Hey Suzanne," Ruth was gentle when speaking to her. "How are you feeling?" She saw a flash of confusion on the girl's face and felt alarmed at the unfamiliarity that stared back through her globes. The ten-year-old's lips parted and the words she spoke let Ruth know things had gone past what their squad could resolve; "Um... who are you people? Do you know me?" Ruth smiled nervously, as she tried to calm her rapidly accelerating heartbeat. "Suzanne..." She held her hand, "We're your friends. Aston is your family friend and neighbor, and I'm his teammate. We've all hung out — like tons of times! Un... don't you — remember...?" Suzanne withdrew from Ruth's grasp and cuddled herself, inching back. "I don't know you." Tears pooled around her eyes. "I don't know any of you." Just then, their third squad-mate came in. Kelvin looked around furtively before addressing Ruth, "Everything okay here? It seems Suzanne was the only one in this Testing Chamber." Ruth looked flabbergasted. "Suzanne's memory is gone." Kelvin stared stunned, before feeling disheartened. He had hoped they got in time before any experiments could create side effects, but alas. His brows furrowed at the thought of how things might unravel later. With a firmer expression, he scooped the sniveling girl up, then held Ruth's hand, "Let's get out of here." "But Legend Force HQ said to—" Ruth was saying as he led her out of the building. "Who cares what they say?" Kelvin all but snorted. After all — the designated organization of Nexaris meant to battle rogue, malfunctioning, uprising cyborgs, and every strain of computerized or chemicalized warfare — is the exact reason we're in this situation. His eyes darkened with anger as the sleepy Suzanne rested on his chest and dozed off after sobbing over the memory overload that had overwhelmed her brain sensors. "Kelvin." Ruth glanced back towards where Aston had darted off alone. Kelvin looked away to quieten the unsettled feeling lingering in him. "He'll be okay." The feeling that said it was far from over.