“I believe he’s only learned a fraction of what he can do were he to embrace it, but he’s too afraid of hurting others to embrace it. He sees the gift as a curse to be contained.”
“Beautiful!” Williams laughed. Bloody spittle flew from his mouth and splat on the mirror, catching the doctor’s attention. The deterioration his fragile skin displayed was occuring more rapidly than his scientists had predicted. The laugh stuck in the throat of the monster staring back at him through milky, black eyes. He turned away quickly leaving the macabre scene to be cleaned by Stanly Marks, his manservant.
“Sir, he’s not a threat to anyone but himself.”
“You don’t know that, Kylie,” his voice flipping from syrup to razors instantly.
“I’ve spent time with him, sir. He’s opened up to me. I don’t feel he poses a threat to the Metahuman way of life.” The young female offered meekly in the face of her Director’s changed temper.
“You’ve only known him for a week? I’ve known him all his life. I know the people with whom he associates—the people he calls ‘family’. They have one goal: To expose and destroy Metahumans and our way of life at The Facility. You read his dossier.”
“I did. It just doesn’t seem to match the Evan Winter I know. He cares too much about life to be part of a group whose goal is genocide.” Remembering Evan’s intelligent, soulful eyes gave her courage to speak.
“Has it ever occurred to you that he has been brainwashed? Deep down, there may have been a good person in there somewhere, but his actions are those of a cold-blooded killer.” The Director’s tone was decidedly one of righteous indignation. Kylie didn’t dare interrupt.
“When reading the dossier Miss Monroe, did you ignore the destruction he personally caused at our research hospital? Do you need further reminding of the metahuman body count from that night? His actions were appalling!”
“I read the file, sir.” She nodded, tears springing to her eyes at the memory.
Her survivor’s guilt was tremendous as she had spent the entire day at the hospital and had just gotten off duty little more than an hour before the building’s invasion and subsequent destruction.
She remembered clearly the events of that day. She and four other doctors worked to prepare the newest recruits, twenty children, for their exposure to the Infinite Serum.
The process was always the same. The subjects arrived in the predawn hours at the hospital’s loading dock in one cargo-load. Even as they were removed from the transport vehicles, they were immediately assessed for sustainability. Those who survived transport were sent on to a thorough physical evaluation. After passing the preliminary exam, the subjects were inked with a unique Meta number for cataloging purposes. Once dosed, the subjects needed constant monitoring to see whether their bodies would reject the serum. The first twenty-four hours were crucial. Doctors, such as herself, worked in shifts to stay in constant contact with each subject’s assimilation progress. Those who survived were branded with the infinite symbol and sent to the recovery wing of the hospital.
After the first week, the new metahumans were sorted. Some stayed on and, depending on their age, began their training as cadets at the Facility. Others were transported to another facility in the U.S. where Monarch conditioning began under the supervision of Senator Donovan Arkdone.
After that fateful night in May, the entire Facility was in mourning for a week as every surviving metahuman, from the youngest cadet to the most seasoned instructor, worked tirelessly to locate the bodies of the fallen by sifting through the rubble piece by piece. Each grave was dug by hand.
The Director made sure the surviving metahumans knew exactly who to blame for the “senseless deaths.” If there ever was a doubt as to the intentions of the “Original Three,” as they were known throughout the Facility, it was smeared red with the blood of those caught in the hospital’s annihilation.
“We have a score to settle here, Kylie. Not only must we avenge our murdered brothers and sisters, but we need to stop this faction from ever hurting us again. Knowing our enemy’s weapons and how they plan to use them against us is essential. You have been entrusted with the task of uncovering this intel and thus far, you’ve performed your duties with unilateral effectiveness. Do not fall into that boy’s web of lies, Kylie Monroe. You know who you are and what you stand for!” His words resonated deep in the young metahuman’s heart.
“Yes, sir.” Kylie looked up to see Captain Rais, the senior instructor posing as her father, watching her from the far end of the living room. His cold eyes narrowed. He’d been listening the entire time.