Anarchy: Revolution

She curled into a small ball on the cold tile floor. Not to cry, but to conserve her body heat because when the power was cut, so too was her only source of warmth. The paper thin pants and shirt that they gave all the subjects to wear offered very little warmth at all. The doctor that was with her had been called away when the entire base started malfunctioning for no viable reason. Shivering, she could still feel the needles and all of the different instruments that had been used to “test” her. It was more like torture, however. Every time they came into the tiny double reinforced room they brought with them the promise of allowing her to see her family. Promises she knew were really just sweetened lies they used to direct her into doing exactly as they wanted. The thought nagged her. Just thinking about the last time she was placed into their “training room” where she had to fight for her life against someone she considered a friend made her stomach lurch in disgust. The things that they wanted her to do, the things that they forced her to do were evil, plain and simple. There was no other way to really describe what the Doctors were at this point in time. The lights had gone out an hour or more ago so that the only light that illuminated the building was the orange-red glow of the emergency lighting that was powered by the backup generator system. She rose to her feet and as she did her eyes spotted the silvery glint of a scalpel that was lying on the metal floor. The reinforced door that kept her inside the ten-by-ten cell hissed when the hydraulic system disengaged as someone opened it from the other side. Gasping slightly against the rush of icy cold air that came from the hall as the door opened just enough for a person to get through. Well, that depended on the size of the person, really. Without thinking about the consequences, she lunged for the fallen scalpel and gripped it firmly. She was ready to defend herself, even at the cost of her life. Raising her head, her blue flecked green eyes settled on a black-clad figure that was partially hiding in the shadows just outside the door frame. She clutched the scalpel just a little tighter in her fist. “I am not here to do you any harm,” the figure spoke again, and once more she felt the potent effects of an underlying power that seemed to simmer just under the newcomer’s command. “I wasn’t expecting to find live subjects, but I can help you get out.” Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of getting out of this hell she’d come to know as her life. Her voice was raw and hoarse from misuse and screaming when she spoke. “You will help me leave?” “Would you rather I leave you to die in the explosion that’s going to rip this place apart?” The owner of the voice stood to full height and removed his helmet. Shock flickered across her face as she realized that he was not even human. Thick black hair was tied back from his face in a braid as big as her wrist. Depthless silver eyes were ringed in deep pulsing blue and set in a face that bore beauty to its extreme. Curved, pointed ears made him look like the fairy lore she barely remembered from childhood. She silently berated herself for the thoughtless fear of an unknown. Not human? How could anyone place a name on another at all when they were in her position? Hell, at the moment she was no more human than he was. While he was a full head and shoulders above her and possessed an air of absolute command, she was not afraid as she spoke. “I will never again be a prisoner.” The - Whatever he was, sighed and took a small, step towards her and put out his hand to her. “Look, we don’t have much time before my friends fry this place and turn it into space scrap. I am trying to offer you an escape here. Take the damn offer or die, I don’t really care which.” He smoothed a hand over his hair and groaned as he pushed a button on his communication link. She looked at him askance as he spoke to the other person… people… Damnit! Who or whatever was on the other end was still talking. “Doing my best, but apparently the survivor is stubborn enough to give Misha a run for his money.” More silence followed his description of her. Her brows shot up in surprise as she tried not to take offence to the way he talked about her as though she could not understand him. What the hell is going on now?! Her head swam as she felt the vibration of the first explosion which nearly sent her to the floor. Stumbling into the door frame, she winced before pushing through the pain. “Oh…” The guy in front of her paced a few steps as he maintained his balance “That was what? Oh. Okay… well, give me a bloody warning next time would you?!” He fell quiet as yet another detonation rocked the foundations of the station. “Damn you straight to the seventh circle of the Void, you stain on galactic society.” “What was…” She started to ask but the look on his face silenced her. The guy grit his teeth in response, scales rippling under the skin, pulsing with deep displeasure at what he was seeing. his eyes flickered to a bright, angry red as a stream of smoke was expelled from his nasal cavity. “I am no longer in the mood to negotiate with you. Come on.” The world tilted on its axis as she struggled to keep up with him until the floor finally rose to meet her. Scarcely conscious as the heat of detonating charges filled the halls, she barely felt him pick her up and carry her out of the medical research facility as it sustained continuous damage from both the imploding equipment and explosives. Voices shouted in the distance as the high-powered gate of the pressurized bridge hissed closed behind them as they made their final exit onto the awaiting ship. Her mind clouded as she fought to maintain consciousness, her eyes watching the blast doors slide shut with a hiss of hydraulics. “Holy s**t, Bane. Who is she?” Another voice spoke as he carried her through the hall to the medical rooms. “Get the table ready, Val.” The voice was close, the rumble beneath her body letting her know the speaker was the one who saved her. Beeps and AI chatter reached her as the prick of an injector made her body stiffen involuntarily. A deep rumbling voice, harder than the one carrying her, spoke with an edge. “Easy, easy. It’s just a sleep aid so you can get rested.” As the medication took effect, the three Concloians looked at each other then at the girl. Bane stepped forward, his eyes looking her over inch-by-inch. “I want to know what they did to her. Valiant, run a scan and find out. Misha, contact Jagger and see if there are any other worlds under the same corruption scheme.” “Scheme?” The one with blue hair said before he reached the door of their sparce medical bay. “What scheme?” “Political assassinations are being pinned on people who don’t conform. Jagger found out that it’s why our family was targeted. We three were just the lucky ones who got out beforehand even though Val’s not from our brood.” Valiant scoffed from the scanners main computer. “I might not be your brood, but we hatched from the same communal clutch. She’s Terran baseline, but there’s something weird about the DNA.” Expanding the screen, he projected the holographic findings above the exam table. “Oh, this is bad.” “What now?” Misha grunted, his serrated teeth grinding slightly. Valiant let out a steady stream of smoke, his eyes glowing bright yellow. “Guys, they’re basically creating super-soldiers. Her DNA’s been spliced with something else, but the scanner can’t seem to get a lock on the species they used.” Bane stared at the girl who couldn’t be more than seventeen cycles old. Her dark hair and tan skin seemed normal enough, but the issue was under the surface. “Scan for tracking implements.” “Done,” Valiant declared. “None found. I’ll do a secondary deep dive if you need me to.” “Do it.” Seconds later, the machine beeped twice before displaying a negative response. Valiant glanced at his clutch-brothers, his eyes shimmering as his jaw curved upward in what passed as a smile. “Nothing. Which means she’s probably a template for the real deal. A raw resource they were using for testing.” “We can use her,” Misha murmured. At his brother’s feral growl, he threw up his four-fingered hands in retreat. “Not against her will, of course. I just mean that we should explain it to her and convince her to help.” Bane nodded appreciatively. “Good idea. Lock her down so she doesn’t fall when we make the jump into hyperspace.” “Yes, Captain,” Valiant said, tying the girl to the table with soft restraints. When he was done, he followed the other two to the bridge and lowered himself into the chair by the weapons console. A few keystrokes later, he nodded. “All systems are green.” “Hyperdrive ready to fire, brother,” Misha called from his place. “Wormhole in three, two, one.” They were thrown back into their seats as stars streaked past the viewports. As the ship came to a jolting stop before resuming course, the sight of an asteroid belt came into view.