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CHAPTER 3

4 years later

"Lee, your logic is flawed. Even gravity couldn't help number 24 with scaling that house." Colonel crossed his arms as he was peering through the one-way Plexiglas window. Lee was sitting beside him at a button-covered console facing the window, his hands resting on his chin and his elbows on the console. I was standing at attention in the door frame, staring forward but constantly listening to the conversation.

"Actually Colonel, it is just what he needs. He'll just have to figure out about using the pendulum force of gravity to fling himself to the roof. And your attempt at sarcasm amuses me." Lee looked at the Colonel. "No offense, but you take issues far too seriously. Just because it takes 24 a few extra seconds to figure things out, doesn't mean he can't make more progress in a different field."

The Colonel sighed and said, "A split second could mean the matter of life and death, mission complete or mission failed. It could mean the loss of the war, by God." Lee absorbed this, and nodded.

"I understand where you're coming from sir. I just think that, like normal people, these Anthros have strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps we should invest in some new DNA? I understand that it would mean re-starting the entire cloning process, but then we could have different species of Anthro for different purposes." I didn't like how they were talking about my kind like they were just machines. Pawns were an even better metaphor. "For example, units like Acchan here would be excellent foot soldiers and guards. They can hear things that we normal humans can't, and focus on things...like he is right now. Isn't that right, Acchan?" He turned around to look at me, and I lost my bearings at how Lee picked me out, and how he knew!

I stammered out, "Y-yes, sir. I have been listening the whole time, sir." I gulped and Lee smiled at the Colonel, who was gazing awestruck at Lee. "I couldn't help but listen in, sir. It was too interesting to me."

Lee said, "It's perfectly fine, Acchan, I've designed you to do just that. That curiosity makes you more alert, meaning you would hear any unknown or hostile sounds, smell any smells, etcetera." He waved his hands. "Since you're so smart, you're best at protecting people, or establishments. Tell me, Acchan, how long have you been listening to our conversations?"

I hesitated for the slightest second, "For as long as I could remember, sir. With all due respect, I couldn't help but listen, and I...I've come up with so many questions, sir."

"Well, Specimen 37, I for one think you leave my presence before I decide to put you in extreme CT." The Colonel said with a cherry red face. "And I'm not talking about finding food for your squad while fending off wild savages; I'm talking about re-enacting the bloodiest battles of mankind." He stared at me hard. "Do I make myself clear?" I nodded and left the room with my head hung low, my ears folded back. I rushed to my room, only to find a strange surprise.

An armed guard was standing next to my threshold, obviously waiting for me. I slowed down significantly when I saw him, for I had only saw a guard twice, and both times it was unarmed, for a split second. "Excuse me, sir? May I ask why you are waiting for me?"

He hefted his SMG, "Actually, I should be calling you sir. I have been assigned as your personal body guard, sir." I guess he saw my confused look. "There have been a few security breaches from outside the facility, and I've been assigned to you as a precaution. Sir."

"Right, then. As you were...sir" We traded friendly smiles and I went into my quarters. I stopped and asked him, "By the way, what's your name soldier?"

He swallowed then said," My name is Corporal Seffner Riggs, sir." I nodded and went to bed.

I was flying in my dream world, soaring over mountains, the cold wind biting my smiling face as I zoomed past cheering villages, dashing past flocks of startled birds. One flock of geese decided to fly with me, and they made me crash. I was suddenly in an abandoned city, there was a thick yellowish green cloud floating menacingly through the streets. I tried getting up, but I couldn't even breathe, much less get up and run. I stared with wide eyes as the cloud engulfed me, and I was choking on the lack of air. I'm dying, I thought. Suddenly, a bright flash, a scream, the cloud disappeared! Seffner ran up to me, asking me if I was alright, and if I could hear him. I nodded meekly, and my eyes shut in a puffy fit. Seffner picked me up, put me over his shoulder and ran through the city. I started to see that it was not in fact abandoned; everyone was just home, sleeping. Seffner said he would get me help really soon, and I weakly nodded, and then we turned a corner to see Lee! Lee was in the city, and he was going to make me move again! I was startled when he held up something long and silvery, and then brought it down to my neck.

"Acchan? Acchan, can you hear me? Damnit! Acchan!" Lee was screaming into my face, slapping me, looking for any sign of consciousness. My eyes shot open, and I started gasping and coughing. Lee immediately hugged me, and said everything would be okay, like I was a baby. "Oh my God, Acchan, I thought we had lost you!"

Panting I asked, "Wha...what happened?" I looked up to see Seffner, staring at me with wide eyes of relief. "Did...we crash?"

Lee gave a single, short laugh, and then said, "Well, Acchan, Seffner here saved your life. He was going into your room, and there was an intruder smothering you with a rag covered in chloroform." Lee shook his head. "Corporal Riggs here has shot the man, most likely crippled him for life. The Colonel is doing investigations on how the guy got into the facility undetected, and then he'll be debriefing Seffner."

"Seffner...is that true? Was, was I being..." I gulped. "Assassinated?"

Seffner nodded slowly with a grim expression. "It seems ironic, and unbelievably lucky, that I was assigned to protect you the night there was going to be a try on your life."

Lee and I both shuddered, just as the Colonel walked in with his face baboon red. "The man won't talk, he's currently going through intense, 'questioning'." He made quotations with his fingers. I smiled. Even though the guy was an ice cube, you got to love how seriously he took everything. He completely deserved the rank of Colonel. "Corporal Riggs. This way, soldier." He beckoned Seffner out of the room. I was a little disappointed that my new friend, and savior, had to leave so soon.

Seffner snapped to attention, and then marched out of the room with Colonel watching the back of his head.

"Lee," I said meekly, "Why did he try to kill me?" Lee got a hurt look on his face and sighed.

"You see, Acchan, not everyone likes Anthros the way we do. I don't mean to sound soft, but I see myself as a Father to you, so I'm probably taking it too seriously." He rolled his eyes. "What am I talking about, he tried to murder you. People see Anthros as beasts, as murderers, rapists, thieves and all around criminals. So, they decide to be hypocrites and murder, rape and steal from Anthros back. Basically, people are jealous that they can't be what you are. Think it as much as you want; you are more than just a clone. You are one of a kind, superior to any others in this world."

I sat for a moment, and then stood up. "Lee, I need to see him. If he tries to make another attempt, then I'll be ready, I won't be sleeping and vulnerable." I put a paw on his shoulder. "I'll be fine, sir." He nodded, and I left the infirmary.

When I returned to my room, there was a whole lot of commotion. More armed guards, scientists, forensic scientists in white robes. Everyone stopped and looked at me when I came in. I felt an awkward pulse flow through my body, then I started backing out. One guard followed me, and I didn't need to ask why.

I already knew.

I decided to not interrupt their investigation any further, so I decided to go to the CT room. I set up the system for a search-and-destroy raid, set for a drug cartel in the jungle. "sir..." the guard said. "I don't think hooking yourself up to that machine would be a good idea. Sir" I could hear the doubt in his voice about saying that to a superior, but he had good reason. I silently scolded myself for going to the CT room instead of looking for the would-be-killer.

"Soldier," I said to the guard, who immediately snapped to attention. "Do you know anything about this man who tried my life?" I looked him in the eye, which seemed to intimidate him.

"I, I don't know, s-sir." He stammered. I looked away and kept walking to the prison block to check up on the situation. Perhaps I would run into the Colonel and Seffner on the way. Seffner was a different one from the common stone-faced tough-as-grits rabble I normally see. Perhaps he was forced by someone to join the Corporation?

Click. Click. I froze in my tracks and swiveled my ears around to pick up any more sounds. The guard said, "I knew Rodrick was too gentle. This time, stay dead. Beast." And he shot.

Getting shot hurts a lot more than it does in CT. I felt the bullet rip through my shoulder; I let out an agonized scream and fell to the ground. I curled up in the fetal position, twitching and convulsing. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the Renegade walk up to me. He smiled knowingly, and I'm positive he thought I was going to bleed out. "You're wrong," I gasped out. "You won't leave this facility alive."

He did a double take, and staggered back. "How did you...?" I slowly stood up, painfully, covered in blood, clenching my fists to keep from screaming. I growled, and staggered toward him. "No!" He backed up, and stared wide-eyed. I felt myself about to cough up blood, and I doubled over. I stood back up, and he was backing away. I fell to all fours and let out a bloodcurdling roar. He turned around and ran, screaming. I started crawling after him, then going faster, and then finally pounding after him. I pounced on top of him, breathing heavily, not feeling the bullet in my shoulder, drooling spit and blood, and staring into his eyes. I could see the fear in his eyes, the regret, the knowing of what was going to come.

"Why are you coming after me? Are you with anyone else?" We stared. "You answer me!" I shook him violently. "Tell me or I'll gut you right here!"

"Okay, okay!" he started crying. "Rodrick and me, we're from this gang outside the facility! We were sent to destroy progress in the facility, including any test subjects!" He sobbed. "Please don't kill me!"

"I'm not going to kill you." He seemed dumbfounded. "But eventually, you'll wish I did."

I heard footsteps pounding our way, and shouts from real guards. I stood up, and I saw Lee bolting ahead of them. I saluted. "I've captured the enemy..." the pain returned. "sir." Lee and another guard caught me as I fell to the ground. "Lee, I'm hit." He looked me over, and his face turned white. I looked at him with a confused face, and he shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Acchan..." he tried to hide a tear. "We can't keep you anymore."

Since I was much older than the other test subjects, I was to be released into the world outside the facility. They healed me in the infirmary for as long until I was able to walk again, which were only a few weeks. I didn't see Lee or the Colonel from the day of the assassination attempts, after that it was a different nurse and guards every day. I never got to see Seffner again either. I knew I was going to miss all three of them, and I didn't even know what I was going to do outside the facility. I've never even seen the outside before, CT was just a simulator. Outdoors were going to be different, I don't recall ever even seeing a window.

When I was healthy enough to leave the infirmary, two guards walked me to an unexplored hall. I didn't take anything with me, I didn't see the need. What use could I have with clothes that were never touched, or gear that only worked in certain rooms? They opened a door and led me in, then locked the door behind them. I kept my eyes and ears down, I felt ashamed at having to leave. My tail was grazing the floor; I never kept it that low unless Colonel was really angry with me. It felt strange. They typed in a code on the wall, and a hatch opened next to us. One guard beckoned me in, so I did. They closed the door, and I heard the system activate the pressurization sequence. I took a deep, shaky breath. Any moment now, I would be on the outside world.