"Breeding pair Subject One, female, and Subject Two, male, to begin Test 1A, limited environmental exposure of Planet Unknown," one of the hazmats says robotically.
The other two respond with an equally monotone, “Clear.”
"Unrelated pair Subject Three, male, and Subject Four, male, to begin exposure to Subject A."
Again both hazmats reply with, “Clear” before all three fall silent as they study the holoscreen.
"What the fuck?" I murmur, eyes wide as understanding dawns.
"I heard them talking,”the male had said. “They want us to be like you."
They're trying to make more modified humans, more alphas, betas, and omegas, though I doubt that's what they're calling us. They don't even know the name of this planet. Fuck, maybe they don't realize its inhabited by more people than just me, Olo, and Wen. I hope that's the case. I hope they don't find the others, because I fear Clija will just kidnap them too.
I couldn't live with myself if that happened, because then it would be all my fault they were hurt and experimented on. It's already hard enough to stomach knowing I've brought this pain and suffering on Wen and Olo. It's hard enough to stomach knowing I might be bringing an innocent child into this fucking mess.
What have I done? What have Ifuckingdone?
Chapter 15
Lyra
Ijerkuprightwitha gasp and quickly look around. I'm still trapped in the box with the two male humans, though both seem to be sitting down now, staring at me. Though I'm thinking the staring has more to do with my abrupt awakening, if their startled expressions are any indication.
I was hoping it was all a dream, but I'm not that lucky, it seems.
The two humans next door are still huddled together. The female is fast asleep, though I doubt she'll remain that way for long with two of the three alien hazmats coming into their box. Each of the aliens holds something in their hand that they jab into the humans’ arms, startling the female awake in the process. The male tries to push both himself and his counterpart into the wall, though it's no use; they can't escape the hazmats.
The things being jabbed in their arms looks cylindrical, but far too big when compared to our syringes on Earth, though there's no mistaking the deep red color slowly filling them. It takes far too long for the red to reach the top of the massive vial, and by the time the aliens are leaving their box, both humans are slumped over, lethargic and weak.
Why the hell would they need that much blood?
Hazmat One and Two pass the vials to Hazmat Three and grab two more identical, empty vials before moving into our box. I press myself as far back into the clear wall as possible as they march inside. My hand goes straight for my belly, covering my still-flat stomach protectively. The aliens don't so much as twitch in my direction, though; instead they make a beeline straight for the two males.
Unlike the occupants of the other room, the brown-eyed one who was pacing earlier sits upright, tense and unmoving, staring off into the distance. The blond cowers, but doesn't attempt to meld with the wall, only flinching when the needle is jabbed into his upper arm.
I grow queasy watching their blood fill the two massive vials, and have no other option but to look away as that telltale burning in my throat warns me I'm about to hurl. With as little as I've eaten, I can't afford to vomit it all up, so I suck in a few deep breaths to try and center myself.
When the job is done and the vials are full, Hazmat One and Hazmat Two finally leave our box, the clear door dropping back down and melding perfectly with the rest of our enclosure, making it look like there is no door at all. And while I'm half-tempted to move toward where the door is to see if it will open for me, I'm not keen on making a scene when I'm alone like this.
The last thing I want to do is draw more attention to myself when I still don't know what is happening to Olo or Wen. I refuse to put them or my baby at risk. If that means enduring the unwanted attention by these aliens and their fucked-up tests, so be it. I will bide my time until there's a better opportunity to make my move.
A series of loud beeping noises pull my attention back to the three aliens outside our box facing their holoscreen.
"Subject One and Subject Two have minor alterations in their DNA sequences," the same voice as before drones. "Move them to Cell Five for further observation. Bring in Subject Five, male, and Subject Six, male, to begin Test 1B, prolonged environmental exposure of Planet Unknown."
In a flurry of activity, two new hazmats arrive just as Hazmat One and Two attach a rod to each of the humans next door’s collars and drag them out. The moment the male and female are out of sight, the apparent leader of these aliens speaks again, "Subject Three and Subject Four show no signs of mutation. Move to Cell Six for further observation and bring in breeding pair Subject Seven, female, and Subject Eight, male, to begin Test 2A, transfusion exposure of Subject A."
The new aliens burst into our box and attach rods to the males’ necks, dragging them out of the room and out of sight, leaving me completely alone for the first time since this shitshow started today. I hunch as far back into the corner as I can, even though it's pointless with the clear walls and empty boxes. They could easily step inside and secure a rod to my own neck and pull me out.
Part of me wants that, because then it would mean the tests are done for now and I can go back to Wen and Olo, or at least I hope so. But seeing as they had mentioned Subject A again, who I've come to assume is myself, then I'm still stuck here for more testing. Who the hell knows what these bastards have planned next, and gods, that makes me nervous.
Two hazmats return dragging two human males behind them, who are then unceremoniously thrown into the box that the female and male had recently occupied. The hazmats, who I am starting to think are the original two, move back toward the holoscreen to report.
"Subject One and Subject Two are secured."
The head honcho doesn't bother responding to them, simply barking, "Subject Five, male, and Subject Six, male, to begin Test 1B, prolonged environmental exposure of Planet Unknown."
That same monotone “clear” confirms that these two are Hazmat One and Two.