The Experiment

by Costanza, Christopher

The only problem was 3 talking, he knows everything now. Fortunately none of them know he exists and he’ll be down on X-451 by the time anyone discovers Horus’ body. As long as they never found out about 3 the plan would be safe…

  When I got close I quickened my pace… Not being able to hide the body only made it so this all had to go even faster than previously planned.

  When Sara opened the door I pushed past her and went in.

  She said “Atlas what are you doing? What happened?”

  “It’s done… but it didn’t exactly go as planned, his lab is a mess. All I could do is lock it behind me, but if anyone goes in there…”

  “Don’t worry Atlas, no one is going in there… Not until after he’s suspected as missing.”

  “I know, but that could happen any day… All it takes is for Neros to try and reach him. It doesn’t happen often but it does happen. We have to get started as soon as possible… I need you to tell Kayin to have the transport ship waiting and meet me in the usual place as soon as he can.”

  She took my hand “Everything’s going to work out… Just concentrate on doing what you need to do and it will all fall into place… We’ll see each other soon…”

  As walked to the observation room, I started thinking about Horus. I was glad I didn’t torture him… Or at least I stopped myself before I really started… He suffered, he was terrified, and now he was dead… That was enough for me…

  I already had so much to try and forgive myself for. I didn’t want to add mercilessly torturing someone to the list… Even if it was someone like Horus who deserved worse than I could ever do to him…

  Although the way I acted really scared me now that I look back on it. For a moment it was like I actually turned into Horus… I still had to kill him, but I could forgive myself for that…

  I had no idea how long it would take Kayin to get here but I didn’t care… I didn’t have the ability to keep myself busy in these circumstances; I was too nervous. The observation room was the only thing that could get me through a time like this…

  I’ve been on this ship for almost two years now… Most of my free time has been spent in this very room looking down at X-451. When we started taking 3 around to the mining sites it would be my first time going to the surface.

  I couldn’t wait to see the oceans, smell the air, and hear the birds. I was so sick of being stuck on the Sirius… Even though for a long time I thought I wanted to live in space… I was wrong. After all this, I think we’d be better off just staying on our own planet and worrying about our own people.

  The very first intelligent life we encountered suffered greatly by our hands… I guess you could say our technology and curiosity had outpaced our morality… Maybe as a species, we aren’t ready to introduce ourselves to the rest of the universe yet...

  Chapter 11

  Hours went by before Kayin finally showed up… I was so anxious it was driving me crazy. I couldn’t sit, I couldn’t relax. All I could do is frantically pace and think… As soon I heard the door open I was so relieved.

  Kayin walked over and stood next to me. Never taking his eyes away from the asirium wall.

  “So I take it Horus is dead?”

  “Yeah, and the native 3 has agreed to help with our plan… Just be prepared, he’s pretty difficult to deal with…”

  Kayin looked confused “What do you mean?”

  “Well… He’s really sarcastic and condescending… Don’t expect any gratitude or respect. Horus obviously taught him how to be arrogant.”

  Kayin raised a brow “Great…”

  “I’m tellin you Kayin… If you talked to him over the radio you’d have no idea he wasn’t one of our people. It’s so strange… You’ll see what I mean.”

  “Yeah I guess that would be odd…”

  “Just remember, he’s been locked in a room for close to a year and had to deal with Horus every day… Just cut him some slack. I can only imagine what he’s had to endure.”

  Kayin rolled his eyes “Yeah well he doesn’t have to treat us badly, we’re trying to help him… You know what, it doesn’t matter… As long as he does what we need him to do I’ll ignore it. It’s your plan, you can deal with him.”

  He sighed. “Doesn’t he realize he’s helping his own people fight against the ones who enslaved them?”

  I shrugged and shook my head “I really don’t know what his problem is… All I know is that he’s currently the smartest person in the solar system and we need his help… He has to care what happens to his people. He’ll come through for us, I know it.”

  Kayin took a deep breath, and put his hands on his hips.

  “Did he suffer?”

  I wasn’t about to tell Kayin everything that happened in that room. I could tell he wanted to hear that I tortured Horus but I didn’t feel like talking about it… He was just angry like the rest of us… He still thought hurting someone else would make him feel better, just like I did.

  “Well as soon as I took the gun out he lunged at me so I had to shoot him in the leg. Then he started yelling so I knocked him out, strapped him down on the experimentation table and gagged him.”

  I was just going to leave out certain parts…

  Kayin’s face lit up “Oh that’s perfect. Strap him down just like he did to the natives! I wish I could have been there to see his face… What else did you do?”

  “I told him about our plans, and that his research would be destroyed. That we knew everything the ACI was planning and that we were going to stop it… Then I brought out 3 and killed Horus in front of him to prove we could be trusted.”

  Kayin looked disappointed… “That’s it?...”

  I laughed and said “Torturing is what people like Horus do Kayin… Believe me I wanted to… But trust me, the look on his face when I told him we were going to destroy all his work was priceless. No amount of physical pain could even come close to what he was feeling… I know Horus… We’re taking away the only thing that really mattered to him.”

  Kayin made a funny face “Yeah I guess so… I say he got off easy… Neros won’t be so lucky when I get to him. I’ll take him to that lab and give him the full native experience… You might not have the stomach for it but I do…”

  I turned to Kayin “You know… After everything that’s happened one thing I can say is that it hasn’t really changed who I am… It almost did, but I stopped myself… I hope you can say the same about yourself once this is all over.”

  He scoffed “Yeah well sometimes you have to adapt to a new situation Atlas… Anyway, my contact said there’d be a ship waiting for us in about an hour. I wanna get to know your new friend before we start parading him around the mining sites.”

  “Yeah let’s hurry. Remember, Neros could try and contact Horus at any time… When Neros realizes he’s nowhere to be found someone will check the lab. We can talk along the way.”

  He agreed and we started back to the lab.

  As we walked I said “So there are 14 mining sites right?”

  “Yeah, 14.”

  “So it’s not realistic to think we can get 3 around to all of them in time… I’d say we should give ourselves a limit of 5 days. We’ll start with the largest mining sites so we can rally the most people when the time comes”

  Kayin slowed down and looked over at me. “I agree… I just don’t see how 5 days will be enough. Don’t you think it will be a while before he can learn their language and even start to communicate?”

  “I hope not. This whole idea is largely based on the fact that Horus told me he was able to memorize a dictionary in a few days… He also admitted that 3 had surpassed his own intellect at every turn… For Horus to admit that means a lot, trust me.”

  “A whole dictionary huh?.. So it means he’s smart enough to easily manipulate us too. Don’t forget that… He could be extremely dangerous…”

  “I don’t think so Kayin. He’s smart enough to know we’re his only option and I saw his reaction when I told him approximately
how many of the natives have died… He cares… A lot.”

  Kayin shot me a glance. “I’m just sayin watch him, alright? Don’t trust him or put anything past him. We’ve already been manipulated by some very clever men, that’s why we’re all here… And remember, to him, we’re responsible for all this…”

  Kayin made good points, but I knew he was wrong…

  As we got closer to the lab, I started to worry that Kayin wouldn’t be able to deal with 3’s… personality.

  Emotions were obviously running high for everyone, and Kayin had made it clear that he’s extremely angry… I could only hope 3 doesn’t set him off and cause problems. Unfortunately, it seems to be one of 3’s favorite things to do. It’s how he entertains himself…

  The moment we stepped through the door into the lab Kayin laughed and said “Wow, you made a real mess Atlas. I thought nothing really happened?”

  He slapped me on the back. “Looks like there was a massacre!”

  “It just happened… I planned on hiding the body in the hidden room…”

  He walked over to the table and looked at Horus.

  “You’re lucky I wasn’t the one who strapped you to this table… You’d still be suffering…”

  When he noticed Horus had wet his pants he started laughing again. “I don’t what you did but he must have been really scared!”

  Then he spit in his face…

  Kayin quickly turned serious. “Alright, let’s do this.”

  I could see Kayin wasn’t in the right frame of mind to meet 3… I had to say something.

  “Hey, before we go in… Just remember… This is a man who was kidnapped, experimented on and tortured… He’s angry, scared, and confused, even though he won’t show it… Just remember he’s not the enemy.”

  “Is he really THAT bad?”

  “Just remember what I said…”

  Kayin started looking around “So where’s this hidden room?”

  I walked over and pushed the bookshelf out of the way.“I’ll go in first… And he’s chained up, search Horus and see if you can find the key.”

  As soon as I opened the door 3 was standing there waiting.

  “Took you long enough, you people better step it up if you want this plan to work… Are you getting me out of here or have you made of mess of this part of the plan as well?”

  He was already starting…

  I said “Yes, come on, I want you to meet someone.”

  “How about I meet all your friends later, we should really be in a hurry… And have you thought about maybe getting me out these chains yet?”

  …“We’re working on it 3.”

  Kayin must have overheard him “You weren’t kidding Atlas…”

  3 looked at me “Kidding about what? Is he talking about me?”

  “Don’t worry about it… Kayin did you find that key?”

  When I looked over he was going through the desk. “Not yet. Horus didn’t have it on him.”

  3 said “You people sure know how to inspire hope…”

  Then he turned to me “You didn’t put much planning into any of this did you?”

  I snapped back “3!.. Do you want to help us save your people or not? I could just leave you in this room until everything’s over. We don’t really need you; you’re just going to help our chances.”

  He started laughing. “Remember when Horus told you about my mathematical prowess?”

  … “Yes”

  “Well I’ve run the numbers on your little plan… I highly doubt will work.”

  He leaned forward and sarcastically said “You do need me.”

  Kayin stopped looking and said “Atlas, is this guy serious!?”

  “Don’t worry about it Kayin, I can handle him.”

  3 looked insulted. “Handle me huh?”

  I sighed “Yeah 3, handle you… Because for whatever reason you seem to want to work against us instead of help us… Don’t you care?”

  He made a mocking gesture. “Fine, I’ll be nice.”

  Kayin remarked sarcastically “Funny, I’d think someone in your situation would be grateful…”

  I said to myself… “Here we go. Kayin really shouldn’t have said that…”

  3 took a few steps towards Kayin.

  “Thankful!? You people are the reason all this happened… Because you were too stupid to advance without decimating your own planet!.. You’ve been here for years. You all let this go on, participated, and now that you have a sudden change of heart I’m supposed to worship your courage?.. Think again!”

  He moved closer to Kayin “I can’t imagine how you people are even able to sleep at night!”

  Kayin stopped searching and started aggressively walking towards 3.

  I jumped between them and said “Please!.. We don’t have time for this!”

  Kayin put his hands up, backed off, muttered something, and went back to looking for the key.

  I turned to 3 and said “Once this is all over, you and your people will be free… We’ll have to stay and continue mining but you’ll never have to see us again. And we’ll make sure none of our people ever come back once we’re gone… You have my word.”

  I paused “I understand your anger 3… And you’re right. But the fact is we’re here now, freeing you and risking our lives to help your people… Can’t we just leave it at that?”

  He started to calm down, sighed and said “Yes, we can leave it at that Atlas… I just needed to express myself… You do realize since Horus changed me he’s the only person I’ve had any contact with… Have you ever talked to that man for more than five minutes?.. That’s what made me contemplate killing myself, not the rest of it…”

  He walked over near Kayin. “Thank you for your help… I really do mean that. Atlas told me everything…”

  Kayin let out a grunt and got back to searching.

  3 smiled and said “Oh, nice response, you’d fit in well with my people… The ones who haven’t been treated that is.”

  Kayin turned around and looked at me. “Atlas… I’m one comment away from choking him… Do something about this or we’re leaving him here. I don’t need this after everything we’ve been through.”

  I could tell 3 was holding back more laughter.

  “I can’t help it… I’m only projecting what Horus taught me about your culture. I thought you people love to laugh… I for one thoroughly enjoy it.”

  “I’ll explain it to you later 3, just give it a rest for now…”

  Even though 3 wasn’t exactly making it easy… At least I got him to say thank you… It was obvious this was going to take some work. But I was willing to do whatever it takes. He deserved every ounce of patience I had in me.

  He’s a victim of our cowardice. Just like the rest of them… Maybe making him feel human would be a good start.

  I looked at 3 “So I think we should give you a real name… Don’t you?”

  I could tell he hadn’t really thought about it.

  “Is now really the time for this?”

  I smiled “Why not?.. Come on, you’ve read a lot of books, seen a lot of names… Any ideas?”

  He crossed his arms and raised his brow. Then he looked back at me in disgust.

  “What makes you think I’d want to give myself a name from a culture whose people enslaved mine?”

  “Yeah I get that…Well then just make one up.”

  He smiled “Well your history books did have some very interesting names… I’ll think about it.”

  I nodded. “Yeah that’s what I mean. And technically most of them aren’t from our culture; they come from much older ones that don’t exist anymore…. My name for example.”

  “Yes, you have a good name. It sounds strong… I want something like that.”

  Just then Kayin yelled out “Found it!”

  I already knew 3 was going to say something insulting so I looked at him and shook my head.

  He gave me a sarcastic glare and smiled… At least I was making some progr
ess with him…

  Kayin was about to unchain him and I said “Not yet, wait until we get on the transport ship. We’re going to make it look like we’re just military escorting another native. No one will even notice… We just have to act normal.”

  I looked at 3 “Don’t say a word until we get on the transport ship… Understand?”

  He scoffed “Of course I know that.”

  Kayin said “Hey, if you don’t come up with a name soon I’m gonna start calling you hairball… Does that sound good?”

  Before 3 could fire back I grabbed his arm and said “Let’s go.”

  Fortunately the majority of the crew was down on X-451, the rest were either working or too busy to even glance at us. This ship was a quiet and lonely place as usual…

  Every time we did actually pass someone I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest... While what we were doing was close to a normal occurrence on the ship, it was somewhat odd for only 2 people to escorting a single native… They were always in large groups. Hopefully no one will notice…

  When we made it to the flight deck I really started to panic. Passing a few people in the halls was one thing… There were hundreds of people here and as soon as we appeared many of them started to stare.

  I softly said to Kayin. “People are staring at us… We have to hurry and get on that ship. Where’s your contact?”

  “Give me a minute; there are a lot of people here Atlas… Just keep moving and act normal. They can’t just stand around and wait for me.”

  After one of the longest minutes of my life Kayin finally spotted his contact and we walked over.

  “Atlas, this is Othos, you can thank him for the transport ship.”

  We shook hands and he led us to the ship.

  Before we got onboard Othos stopped us and said “Whatever you do, don’t use the radio… Everyone will hear you and it’s closely monitored. It could easily lead to you being questioned… Other than that you should be good to fly freely around the planet without any problems.”

  Kayin and I thanked him and walked on.

  Regardless of the situation, I was excited to see X-451 for the first time. There was nothing more I wanted than to get away from the Sirius and breathe some fresh air. To look up and see a blue sky instead of a grey ceiling with bolts every few inches.