With wobbling legs she made her way to the door and proceeded down the deserted hallway to the main entrance they had walked through earlier that day if it was even the same day.
Gemi barged into Jade’s office without so much as a nock. Her face registered the surprise at her visit going from shock to anger in a spilt second.
“What are you doing up?” she yelled, standing up and moving towards her to guide her to the nearest chair.
“What happened?” Gemi croaked, her throat felt as if she had spent weeks in the desert with no water.
“You had a seizure.” Jade walked back to sit down behind her desk across from her. “It came on so suddenly. We performed triage on you there in the living quarters and then brought you back to the hospital wing once your body had finally calmed down.”
“This is a side effect of the testing isn’t it?”
“It’s a possibility. We knew the brain might have a hard time once we brought you back around to the real word.”
“There was no testing for safety?”
“You were the test. You all volunteered knowing what an impact this would have in preserving the Chip Act against the radicals wishing to dismantle it.”
Gemi stared at her silently. Something felt odd about the whole situation. She still couldn’t remember anything about her life before and something about Jade made Gemi not want to trust her.
“Look I know this is a lot. Maybe if you share with me what you saw? Was it about your life here?”
“No, just a few flashes from the world I so eagerly volunteered to be a part of.” Gemi didn’t try to hide her disdain for the whole situation.
“But nothing else?”
“I just said no.”
“Well that is quite unfortunate. Like I said, it will just take time for –”
“For my brain to sort things out. Yeah, you mentioned that.”
Gemi sat back in the chair with her arms folded. She was acting like a petulant child, but she didn’t care. For all she knew her and Jade could have been the best of friends, but at the moment all she saw was someone who had fried her brain and had no insight into how to fix it.
“How am I to know that this isn’t part of the test? That maybe my brain is being screwed with now. Or maybe you’re lying to me. There is no way to really tell is there?”
Jade sat back pondering her question for a few seconds before getting up and moving to a file cabinet that was tucked in the corner of the office. She pulled open the third drawer and flicked through the many folders before pulling one and returning to the desk.
“It’s not much, but here is your release paperwork. You signed it willingly the day before the testing began.”
Jade pushed a document in front of her. She gazed over it reading about the various warnings that this kind of testing could have on the brain.
Long-term memory loss. Check.
Brain bleeds, short-term memory loss, incontinence, Death. Thankfully not.
Confusion, headaches. Check.
Aggression. Possibly.
Seizures. Check.
At the bottom was a signature.
Gemini Granger
Signature
“Who is that?” Gemi said pointing at the signature.
“That’s you,” Jade laughed as she slid the paper out from Gemi’s grasp and placed it back in the folder. “Gemi is just a nickname. Now if you please, I would like you to head back to your room and rest.”
Gemi noted the name of the folder DBMA Anti Chip Testing.
“Which one?” Gemi said under her breath although loud enough for Jade to hear.
“Your hospital bed. It’s about two in the afternoon and you and the others have been invited to a welcome back to the land of the living dinner of sorts this evening. Just so you know, I didn’t name it that. The others are very excited to welcome you all back.”
Wordlessly Gemi headed for the door. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jade return the folder to the cabinet and this time she locked it close, slipping the key in the top draw of her desk before sitting down and carrying on with whatever work she was doing before Gemi ambushed her.
Gemi closed the door behind her, hesitating on the other side with her head against the cold wall. Something still felt wrong and she couldn’t shake it.
Just as she was about to head back to her room she heard shuffling in the office. Jade had dialed someone on the phone and was talking in hushed tones. Gemi moved closer, pressing her ear to the door.
“I know sir, but she was asking questions. I am almost one hundred percent positive she doesn’t remember who she is outside of Gemi the poor pathetic chipped girl.”
There was a moment of silence that Gemi assumed was the person on the other line talking.
“It didn’t jog her memory. She asked who that person was and seemed totally confused when I told her it was her. Trust me, she will spend months riddled with seizures and a plethora of other ailments as her brain tries to filter everything we put it through. It will be fine you will see tonight.”
There was another moment of silence before Jade hung up the phone.
Gemi moved away from the door and sprinted back towards her room. She knew something had been off the moment she woke up in this place. Something in her brain had been trying to warn her even if she couldn’t remember what it was.
Whoever had helped facilitate this supposed test and who was extremely concerned with Gemi finding out who she was planned on being at the dinner tonight.
Gemi crawled back in the bed. If he wanted the pathetic chipped girl, he would get her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jade escorted Gemi to the fifth floor at six that evening. She paid extra attention on the way there. Mapping out every stairwell, elevator, and exit. She also noted several security cameras in the elevator and the fifth floor, oddly there were none on the hospital level. Perhaps not wanting to have records of whatever shady business took place there.
Jade lead her to a great hall stuffed with long tables flanked on each side with chairs. For being a supposed homecoming, the place was deserted.
“The others will be here a little later,” Jade whispered in response to the look on Gemi’s face. “We wanted you to have your little reunion before you were bombarded with the rest of the group.”
Once mentioned Gemi noted a few people spread out at different tables. In the far corner Gemi saw Jaxton sitting with the doctor. The moment he noticed her he stood and rushed over to her. He didn’t pause before sweeping her into his arms and crushing her to his chest.
“I can’t believe you’re actually here.” He pushed her out arm’s length to get a look at her. “They wouldn’t tell me anything. I’ve been locked in the damn hospital wing for days.”
“You were in the hospital wing?”
“Yeah, they locked me in and gave me some bullshit answer about safety.”
“They didn’t tell you anything?”
He shook his head and pulled her back into an embrace. “They just kept asking me what the last thing I remember was. They wouldn’t tell me where you were, just that you were safe. I didn’t believe them. That you were alive after… I think that’s why they locked me up. They knew I would tear the place apart looking for you.”
Gemi glanced over her shoulder and saw that Jade had wondered over to another table where Kai and Callum sat shooting dirty looks her way.
“What is the last thing you remember?” Gemi whispered.
“I think you know.” His arms tightened around her and she could hear the tension in his voice.
“I’m glad you’re all here!” a voice called from behind her.
Gemi turned to see a middle-aged man enter the room. His full head of hair was streaked with gray giving away his age despite that fact that his face was still youthful.
He walked to the font of the room and motioned towards the table. “Please join me. I am sure you have a million questions. I was hoping to answer some of them before the others g
ot here.”
Jaxton grabbed her hand and lead her to the table, choosing a seat on the far side of where Kai now sat. The doctor joined them, reaching out and squeezing Gemi’s hand before turning his attention to the man in the front.
“My name is Doctor Dagmar, I am the head of research for the DBMA Chip Act. I know you all must be confused and the first question you have is how did you get here, am I right?”
Gemi saw a few of her former companions nodding their head silently at him.
“Well the truth is you have been here the whole time, safe in this building.” Doctor Dagmar raised his hand to quite them as a rumble of murmurs erupted through everyone.
“What is he talking about?” Jaxton whispered in her ear.
“You see,” Doctor Dagmar continued. “You were all a part of a test to show the effects on the public if the chips were turned off. We downloaded your subconscious into a computer and gave you a mission and a location and let you do the rest.”
The room had fallen dead silent, all eyes on the doctor.
“We were required to run this test one hundred times and gauge the outcome. We put you in a situation where numerous people were affected to show how quickly this could spread. Gemi here was our wild card.” All eyes turned towards her, she dropped her gaze to the table to avoid their stares.
“In all instances we programed it to make her think that she was. In most cases the fear and thought of the possibility of losing it was enough to make her and others around her act out in aggression. We are very pleased with the results and thank you for your willingness to participate.”
“Now that the basics have been covered.” Jade walked to the front to join Doctor Dagmar. “I want to reassure you it’s normal if you can’t remember your lives here at the base. Memories should trickle in, but unfortunately with that means you will remember the other lives you lived during the test. Please let me know immediately if you experience any headaches, loss of consciousness or seizures as these can be signs of brain trauma.”
“Well then, the other’s will arrive any minute and I am sure you would like to reacquaint yourselves with each other.” Doctor Dagmar walked up and clapped Jaxton on the back. “I would think you would be especially excited to spend quality time with you wife.”
“Excuse me?” Jaxton turned to face him, a large crease in between his eyes.
“I’m sure Jade would kill me for telling you something before you had a chance to remember it, but I can imagine she wouldn’t be too excited for this to continue past the testing. I mean, no wonder she tried to kill dear Gemi.” Doctor Dagmar winked at her.
“Are you trying to say that Kai and I…” Jaxton trailed off, the words unable to find their way out of his mouth. “That’s impossible.”
“Quite possible actually, for the past three years if I’m correct. Now go, spend time with your lovely wife.”
The room grew loud then, all the other residents of the base filling into the space, rushing their little group. Jaxton’s hand slid from hers, falling to his lap where his fingers twisted around themselves.
“You’re alive!” a male resident walked up to them and slapped Gemi on the back. “How do you feel? I mean you’re insane to volunteer for something like that! I always knew you were a badass though!”
Gemi felt Jaxton shift behind her. She turned to see him sliding out of the bench and wander into the crowd that gathered around Kai.
The man talking to her was still rambling on, but it became white noise blending into the buzzing of the crowd. Out of the corner of her eye Gemi caught Doctor Dagmar talking to Jade and staring straight at her, a large smile on his face.
“Did you hear me?” the man asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
“No, I’m sorry. This is all still overwhelming.” Gemi forced a smile.
“You know what, let me grab us something to drink.” He smiled down at her and patted her on the shoulder before walking away.
“There is something I don’t trust about him.” the doctor leaned in and whispered in Gemi’s ear. She had almost forgotten he had been sitting there.
“He looks harmless.”
“No, not him. Dagmar, there is something about him. I don’t trust him and you shouldn’t either.” With that the doctor pushed up from the bench and walked over to where the food was being placed.
At least others were voicing the same concerns she had. It made her feel less crazy.
A small crowd of people hovered close to Gemi, eyeing her skeptically. She wondered if they were the ones who saw her outburst and dramatic seizure in the hall. To avoid another awkward conversation she dropped her eyes to the ground and followed the direction that the doctor headed in. As she closed the gap between her and the buffet line the smell of food hit her like a ton of bricks. Suddenly she was ravenous. Brainwashed dream food apparently didn’t count to her stomach.
Gemi loaded up her plate without watching what she was grabbing. She headed over to a table in a secluded corner and began eating, watching everyone gather and talk.
Several people walked passed her and paused like they wanted to engage her, but changed their mind and moved on. She was glad; she wasn’t in the mood to play along.
“You know, this is supposed to be a party right?” a familiar voice asked from behind her. Gemi continued to eat, choosing to ignore the question.
“Oh come on, you can’t possibly still be mad at me.” Sann came into her view as he swung his long legs over the bench and sat directly in front of her. “You heard what that doctor guy said, I didn’t actually try to kill you.”
“Just your subconscious. So in essence you harbored some kind of death wish on me.” Gemi picked up her knife and cut at her meat.
“Well the real you kinda seems like a bitch, so I wonder why.”
Gemi grasped her knife tighter and brought it down on the table wedging the blade into the wood between two of Sann’s fingers. He ripped his hand back with such force he tumbled back and onto the floor.
“What the hell is your problem?” he yelled as he stood back up. Gemi noted several faces turned towards them to see what the commotion was.
“Can you remember everything that happened in those hundred lives yet?” Gemi asked as she dislodged her knife and began cutting at her food once again.
“No, just the last one.”
“Well, once you can you’ll know exactly what my problem is.”
“I think I liked you better in the test.” Sann walked away before she had a chance to retort and without seeing the evil eye she was throwing his way.
Having her fill of social time, Gemi stood up from the table and headed for the door. The sea of people separated as she walked by, none of them making eye contact.
In the corner of the room by the exit Gemi saw Jaxton talking with Kai. They were both whispering, but their body language and hand movements told her they both were not happy. Good.
“Where are you going?” Jade stepped in front of her and cut off the path to the exit.
“My head hurts,” Gemi lied.
“Everyone took time out to be here for you and the group.”
“Really? Because this appears to be more for them than for us.” Gemi couldn’t control the anger in her voice. “It’s rude that you would throw us in here with a bunch of strangers we apparently know when we can’t even remember our life past being hunted and picked off one by one. So you’ll excuse me if I’m not in the social mood when I keep replaying what I thought was my life over and over in my head as I try to strain out what was real and what wasn’t.”
Jade stared at Gemi with her mouth agape. The room had grown quiet and Gemi realized that she had been shouting.
She took a deep steadying breath. “I’m sorry, I don’t feel that well. I would like to go lay down.”
Jade moved out of her way without another word.
Gemi practically ran to the elevator. The halls were blissfully empty so she was clear from having to engage in any more uncomfortable
conversations. She thought she would be happy to see the others, but even they seemed like strangers in this world. Everyone was caught up trying to figure out who they were. Gemi on the other hand was determined to find out.
Instead of hooking a left on the hospital wing after the elevator doors opened she went right towards Jade’s office. She was pleasantly surprised to find the door unlocked. Gemi slipped into the dark room and shut the door behind her.
Gemi made her way to the desk, trying her best not to bump into anything in the dark. With fumbling hands she located the switch to the small desk lamp and turned it on. She found the top draw and pulled it open. There on top of a stack of papers was the key to the filing cabinet.
She inserted the key into the third drawer and yanked it open. The contents were practically spilling out. Dozens of manila folders all scrolled with various titles that made no sense to her. Gemi shuffled through the folders searching for the one from earlier.
The folder was missing.
Gemi pulled open the other two drawers prepared to shuffle through more paperwork, but they were empty.
“Fuck,” she said under her breath, slamming the door shut.
Gemi fell down in the desk chair. She saw her put the folder back in that drawer. There had to be something in there that she didn’t want her to find.
She began pulling opened the desk drawers, trying her best not to disturb the contents too much to where it would be noticeable that someone was in there.
On the last drawer, she was about to call it quits after coming up empty when she saw a piece of paper sticking up from a crack. Gemi pushed down on it until there was a click and the bottom sprung open. She would have to put that on her list of how the hell did she know how to do that. There underneath was a stack of files and on top the title DBMA Anti Chip Test stared back at her.
As she was pulling it out she noticed her name sprawled across the top of another folder. Gemi pulled it out and threw it down on the desk as well. She started rifling through the contents of the testing folder. Everything seemed fairly straightforward. It included several documents that outlined the test and release paperwork for all the participants, which she decided not to go through since they would all be exactly like hers.
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