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Chapter 5-I*What luck! Who’d have thought I’d find such a place! Just the right size and so
near the ocean; water’s a little warm, but that’s OK. *Sigh* I wonder why my brothers
and sisters haven’t found this place yet? I will have to tell them about it when I go for
food, because there’s sure isn’t much to eat here. Actually, there’s not much of anything
here: no fish; no life. Hmm. . . how odd. . .
Huh? what’s that?! Light from under the water?! It’s night, so it’s not the sun. . . false
Light?! Yaa! Help, help!! Put me down!! What is this odd two-legged creature?! I’m
caught in a strange, woven pouch--like the one’s in the ocean that catch and take fish away,
only smaller. . . Where are they taking me?! Away from my home ocean and new pool?!
Into a huge structure with more false light from inside, and strange marks on it’s side. . .
No! Take me back! Please. . .
Ouch! I wish They’d stop that! Those sharp things hurt me, piercing my skin. I’m
becoming afraid. Whatever They’re doing to me is causing . . . Changes. They sure seem
happy about it, though. Those strange - what are they called? Hue-mans? I have a
feeling the changes are from the sharp things. They call them “Injections.” What does
that mean? My metal holding box is getting to be too small again. I’m bigger than anyone
in my family now, I’m sure. My body is different; my legs are getting longer, and my front
feet are changing, looking strange. What did They say? That I was “Developing
th-thumbs.”? What a weird word! I can reach and grab things better now. They were all
excited today by “Hair growth.” When I touched the top of my head, I felt something
soft, and fine. That must be “hair.” Hair like Them. . .
. . . Like Them. . . ?
Like Them!! That’s what’s happening to me! They’re making me like Them. . . Hue-man. . .
Now I’m very scared! Why is this happening?
*Sob*
I wanna go home. . .
I want my mama. . .
*Sigh*
This is boring! Why does it seem to thrill Them so? Oh boy, another card. . .”Ball.”
Dr. Anderson looks so happy. He looks like that a lot lately, since I started speaking. He
calls it “Verbal Communication,” I call it a protest of pain. My first word is recorded as
“Ouch” which is what I uttered when I received my morning injection that day. If Dr. Miller
hadn’t been so rough. . .
“Are you ready?”
Next card, “Man.”
“Very good!”
*snicker* What a dork!
“OK, let’s go.”
Go? Ow! Let go! I can walk ya know! Oof! Thanks a lot! That Dr. Jackson is
such a jerk!!
Well. . . This room again. All metal, with one mirror/window. I wonder if They realize that
stupid trick doesn’t work; I know They’re in there, watching me. At least I can see what
changes I’ve been going through. I can walk like the humans, on two legs. It’s actually
easier than the way I used to get around. In fact, my body is almost exactly like a humans,
except for my tail, and green skin. Now down to my shoulders, my hair is blonde and curly.
“Hello there, Mona Lisa.” That’s my name. They say it’s because I’m Their “Work
of art.” *humph* Yeah right. I know what I look like, and that’s because of rooms like
this. I can see what a monster I am. . .
“How are you today, dear?” Dr. Anderson. I wonder who else is behind that
mirror? These guys always travel in packs.
“Have a seat.” In the middle of the room is a single metal folding chair. Brr!
Why do They keep these rooms so cold?
“You’ve been doing very well on your tests, Mona Lisa. Your IQ is well above that of
an average seven-year-old.” I could have told him that! I’m eight-years-old!
“We’ve also sensed you’ve become restless. Is this true?” Dr. Zachary. He’s the
only human to treat me like a living creature, not an experiment. Not that I trust him or
anything. . .
I shrug, “Well, yeah. . .” It’s true. I do nothing except read books (which They
encourage and provide in enormous amounts) and take tests.
“I thought so. Tell me, is there anything we can do?”
Hmm? They’re being awful nice. . . Maybe I’ll use that to my advantage. “Well, I
read a story about a man that could fight real good. Like a Ninja-type crime fighter.”
“Where on earth did you read that?” Doc Anderson sounded mad.
“One of those students was looking at a comic book and left it when his shift was
over, so I took it.” I wondered if Chris would get in trouble; he’s the only one who reads
comics instead of medical journals. I don’t really care, except if he gets fired, I won’t find
out what happens next issue. . .
“So are you saying you’d like to learn to fight the way the comic book character
does?” there’s interest in Dr. Zachary’s voice.
Yes!! “Well, yeah. I never get to do stuff; run around, exercise. I read that all
creatures need to exercise to stay healthy, humans and animals. I’ll bet that even includes
what-ever I am.” Boy I bet that peeved Dr. Anderson off! He hates it when I talk like
that!
Even though They were talking quietly, I could still hear Them: “I think it a great
idea.”
“Jim, I don’t know. Teaching her to fight may not be smart. . .”
“Come on, Dan. What harm could she do? Plus it could be interesting research,
see how her body works on a physical level. Endurance levels, strength, so much to learn!”
“That’s what concerns me! How do we know how strong she can get? Her
intelligence levels are already off the charts! She’s unlike anything we’ve ever created! I
don’t want to loose her!”
“What, do you think she could get out of here! No way, Dan, you’re too paranoid
to let anything like that happen. Besides, we can take care of it.”
“All right, Jim. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Aren’t I always. . .OK Mona Lisa, it’s a deal.”
Pretending I hadn’t heard a word, I look at the mirror, “Really!?”
“Yes, we’ll look into it and find someone to teach you. What is it you want to learn?
Karate? Tai-Chi?”
“I want to be a Ninja! Like in the comic!”
They didn’t answer for a moment. “All right, Ninja. I’ll find you a Ninja teacher.” a
strange buzz came from the window “Dr. Jackson, we’re done.”
Ow! I wish he’d let me walk!Ouch! Geez! I’m gonna have bruises cuz of that guy!
My Room. . .Cage is more like it. It’s got a bed, a comfy chair, a bookshelf
overflowing with reading material, a tiny kitchen with a fridge, and a microwave, a bathroom
with a sink, tub and toilet, and lots of cameras. But that doesn’t make it any different than
the metal box I used to live in. The door’s still locked, I’m still watched 24/7, and I still
have nothing to do. . .
I wonder why Doc Zachary was so enthused about my idea? I just want to use
some energy and do something different. This routine is so boring! The tests are way easy
and I get tired of books. Maybe I’ll ask for a drawing book, and colored pencils. I like to
draw, but I don’t like using the lined paper. I’m supposed to use that for writing tests.
Maybe I can get a radio, or some video games, or even a TV out of Them. I’m just so
tired of feeling so. . .Cut off -- so trapped. I want to do more than read about Life in
books. I want to SEE it; LIVE it! *Sigh* Oh well, It’s been a long day. Taking written
tests it easy, but those tests today were not; they hurt! Blood tests, lots of shots, and
machines all around. They gave me an injection that made me feel all funny and floaty. I
wonder if that other creature was real, or just a dream? There was another in the room,
kind of like me, but not. It was smaller, and brown. It didn’t look very healthy. *yawn!* I
wonder, am I the only non-human here? Am I alone. . . ?
“Is everything OK, Mona Lisa?”
I raise my eyes from my pencil to Dr. Zachary, and shrug.
“You seem down. Oh, by the way, I found you a teacher so you can learn your Ninja.
He’ll be here next week.” I smile slightly and look back at the eraser of my pencil.
“What’s wrong? You can tell me.”
“Well,” I don’t know how to start, “Am I alone?”
“What?” Dr. Zachary puts down his red pen and my test to look at me.
“Am I alone? The only one? The only non-human?” There’s concern in his eyes, but
also nervousness. I press, “I’m just so lonely. I’ve never had a real friend.”
“Oh hon, you’re not alone! You’ll always have us!”
Whoopee. “But it’s not the same.” I’ll give him the innocent eye bit. “I’ve never
played with anyone my own age.” I donned a hopeful expression, “If there ARE others like
me, maybe they would wanna get some exercise too?”
Dr. Zachary looks even more nervous now. I wonder why? “Listen, Sweetie, I’ll have
to speak with Dr. Anderson.” He takes my paper and his pen and clipboard, standing up.
“We’ll talk to you later tonight, OK?”
That’ll have to be good enough, for now, “Yeah, OK.”
*Buzz* “All right, Dr. Jackson.”
Man! Why won’t they let me go myself!? I know the way! Ow!!
The sound of a card key being slipped into its slot on my door makes me look up
from my book. James and the Giant Peach. I’ve read it five times already. The door
opens and Dr. Anderson enters, followed by Dr. Zachary. They’ve come to my room? This
is new.
“Mona Lisa,” Anderson nods to me.
“Doc,” I nod back.
This doesn’t seem to please him, but he continues, “Dr. Zachary told me about your
conversation earlier.”
"Oh?” I act casual.
“Yes. Is it true? You feel lonely?”
“Well. . . Yeah. I don’t ever get to play with anyone like me. I’m mean, you guys
are OK and all. . . “ *Snort* yeah right, “But. . . It’s just not the same. . .” I shrug and stare
sadly at my webbed toes.
The two men look at each other, then back down at me. “Dr. Zachary and I have
discussed it, and feel you’re old enough to know--you’re not our only ‘creation’ here in this
facility.” I can’t hide my surprise. “We’ve talk about your idea, about others joining your
Ninja lessons. . .”
“. . . and?” I prompt.
“And we’ve decided that it’s time for you to make some friends.” Dr. Zachary
smiles.
“Really!?” I can’t believe it!
“Really.” Zachary looks happier about it than Anderson does. “You all start
Monday morning, 9 am.”
“That’s great!!” I can’t wait ‘till Monday! Today’s Thursday, three whole days! I’ll
never make it!
“Oh and about your test. . .” Doc Anderson pulls out a packet.
Test? Oh yeah, creative writing. “Yeah?”
“From now on, I prefer you not use words such as ‘son of a bitch,’ ‘asshole,’ and
‘prick,’ if you please.”
" But they’re descriptive words, aren’t they? Wasn’t that the assignment? To write
a descriptive essay?”
“Yes, But-” he raises an eyebrow at me, “these words are not appropriate when
describing the interns and Doctors at this facility.”
“Maybe not appropriate, but true none the less.” I lift my chin to look him
defiantly in the eye.
Anderson sighs, “Please, in the future use better judgment, and at least some
self-restraint.”
“Good night, Dear.” The two turn to leave. “Cunning, isn’t she?” I hear Doc
Zachary say to Anderson.
“Too smart for her own good,” the older Doctor mumbles back. “And maybe ours,
too.”
I smile as the door slides closed. I’ve got them trained nicely.
--From the journal of Mona Lisa--
*Ooh* I’m so sore! Mater Tachi has been working us hard lately. I
wonder if he’s ever found it odd to be teaching a bunch of strange-looking
creatures? I was so excited when I started my training a year ago, and even
more so when I met Wendy. I finally had a friend. She’s about six inches
shorter than me now, but when we first met, I only had an inch and a half on
her. They are impressed by my growth rate now that I’ve been in training.
According to my most recent measurements, I now stand 4’5”, and weight
87.9lbs. I’ve also got nine inch biceps now; my muscle mass is up by 32%, and
my body fat is down to 21%. I used to be a lot flabbier.
Dr. Anderson’s been coming down hard on me lately. I think he’s afraid
I’m starting to slack off. Ha! Not hardly! Doc Zachary says I’m boarder-line
genius level. Well, I don’t know about THAT; Wendy seems to be a lot smarter
than me. She’s been here for SIX years! Two more than me. However, she’s
not a ‘Creation’ , she’s a genuine being. She was not made by Them like I was.
I try to understand when Wendy explains where she came from, but usually it’s
way over my head. She says she’s from another dimension, what ever that
means. But, I really don’t care where she’s from, she’s here, and now I have a
friend.
However, I also seem to have an enemy now. A ‘Creation’ that’s been
here for five years. She was an intern who learned of the experiments
performed here and was so intrigued by them that she snuck down to the main
lab after hours to do some experiments of her own. She HAD intended to be
the first to actually make a mutant successfully. She got her wish, but not the
way she expected. Instead of her specimen, a cat rescued from the Humane
Society, becoming more human --like me--SHE started becoming feline. Now,
instead of performing research and experiments, they were performed on her.
She learned to accept her fate quickly, being a scientist and naturally curious,
and rather enjoyed the attention (Obviously both the feline AND female parts
of her personality). But, a year later, I came along, and shattered her new way
of life, with mine. I was Their “Work of Art” and boy did that make her mad! I
don’t know why she holds a grudge against ME, though. Not like it was MY idea
to become what I am. I had no say in it what-so-ever! Yet, the hatred for me
remains. ‘Calla the Cat Woman’ is what me and Wendy call her--not to her face
of course.
So, together we train with our Master Tachi: Wendy, an eleven-year-old
being from another dimension, Calla, a twenty-year-old student turned
experiment, and me, a nine-year-old mutant “Work of Art”. . .
“Dinner.”
I look up from my journal. “Thanks, Joel.” He nods, sets the tray down on the
counter next to me, and turns to leave. I casually flick my hand out as he goes. Once the
door slides shut I view my prize with a grin. “Thanks a lot. . .”The magnetic strip of the card key shimmers in my hot little hand.
End Chapter 5-I
* = indicates a "flashback" chapter
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