“We’re SO dead when they catch us.” Henna said.
“So why are we doing it in the middle of the day?” 24-42 asked suspiciously.
“Because it makes sense for us to be in the middle of Training Ground 1 during the day. If we came here by ourselves at night questions would be asked before we’d walked three steps outside of our lodgings. We’re monitored, remember?” Henna said. “When you’ve lived a life of crime you learn the tricks.”
“Okay, I was expecting this sort of knowledge from Tytus, not you.” 24-42 looked concerned as they walked into the middle of Training Ground 1.
“There’s lots you don’t know about me.” Henna laughed. “Anyway, the coast is clear, let’s go.”
They both took off and up over the base.
“And now we come to our first problem – where’s Titus’s lodgings?!” 24-42 groaned. Below them were a LOT of lodgings of various depths into the ground.
“Well, we’re in Training Ground 1, which is pretty central, and it’s late afternoon, so that’s west, and Tytus is in the East wing, which narrows it down somewhat…” Henna flew to the east, 24-42 following along tentatively.
“I’m guessing it’s…that one.” 24-42 pointed to a yard that was at least four storeys deep into the ground. “I know he lives on the bottom floor. Plus that’s his motorcycle.”
“I have no idea how or why he has that thing. There’s no where for him to drive it and he shouldn’t have still had it after being in gaol for four years.” Henna said.
“Well, come on, let’s see if we can get him.” 24-42 began her descent, Henna right behind her. They landed next to the motorcycle, and walked over to the screen door that led into his lodgings.
“Tytus! Hey Tytus it’s us!” Henna tapped on the glass with a loud whisper.
Sure enough, Tytus emerged. His face was swollen and bruised from where 24-42 had hit him with the green energy, but otherwise he looked like his usual self.
“It’s you two, the reason I’m trapped in this shitty situation.” He snapped. “Come to beat me up again?”
“Tytus, really?” Henna groaned. “You know why we did what we did.”
“Lemme guess, just following orders?” Tytus snapped.
“No, making sure you didn’t get killed. If we weren’t able to knock you out and get you back then you can bet they would have found a way to end you. Come on Tytus, talk to us, why’d you do it?” 24-42 asked.
“Why? WHY?” Tytus laughed. “Because I’m a Haunted Maze Trouper through and through. They looked after me as a kid, made sure I had the best of everything. My parents were very high up in the Troupe, and I agree with everything they taught me.”
“That the world needs drugs and destruction?” Henna quipped dryly.
“The world CRAVES destruction! All of us do, none of us are ever truly happy unless we’re destroying something or someone else. It’s what humans are built for!” Tytus told them. “Look at you 24-42!”
“I’ve never liked destruction, or hurting people. I hate it, and I hate that I’m so good at it. I’ve been fighting with it for as long as I can remember.” 24-42 looked at him darkly. “I’ve always preferred creating things.”
“Me too!” Henna added.
“You’re in denial. Just like everyone else on this miserable planet.” Tytus laughed again.
“Then why didn’t you slit your throat when your comrades did?” Henna asked.
“Because they were fodder. They were brainwashed slaves, nothing more.” Tytus told them. “All of them drug addicts we had under our control.”
“That’s disgusting.” 24-42 turned white.
“It’s efficient. Why risk the high-ranking ones when you can create drug mules to do the dirty work for you?” Tytus asked.
“Yeah, I can see we wasted our time.” 24-42 sighed. “You’re well above our pay grade.”
“Always was.” Tytus smirked.
“Let’s get out of here.” Henna sighed.
“Bye now!” Tytus waved as they both flew off back to Training Ground 1, where a very angry C42 was waiting for them.
“Care to explain why you disobeyed my orders to stay away from 15-42?” She glared at the pair as they landed.
“Because he’s our friend and we wanted to help him.” 24-42 replied as Henna went pink.
C42 inhaled deeply.
“Be that as it may, we have him isolated for a reason, and that reason is that he can’t be reasoned with.” C42 told them.
“Yeah. We found that out the hard way.” Henna said.
“Dan and Alexis might have more luck, they’re not the ones who bashed him up. Plus they think the world of him for some reason.” 24-42 suggested.
“They believe he’s brainwashed, when we all know it’s indoctrination. That’s why we’re keeping them away.” C42 said. “We don’t need them reinforcing his mindset.”
“We’re sorry. We just wanted to help.” 24-42 sighed.
“Well, you did somewhat. You got him to talk, which is more than our psych team can do at the moment.” C42 admitted. “We’ll continue to monitor the situation and let you know if you can help, okay?”
“Thank you.” Henna and 24-42 nodded.
“I’m not totally unreasonable, and I admit, we should have communicated our reasoning to you better.” C42 said. “So I’ll let you off with a warning this time, and I’ll speak to C5683-42 about being more communicative.”
Henna and 24-42 grinned.
“Now scat. I’ll have a meeting with 21-42 and 16-42 so you don’t have to explain it to them. Off you go!” C42 dismissed them. They both made themselves scarce pretty quickly!
“We are SO lucky that C42 is reasonable sometimes.” Henna said as they walked to the lunchroom.
“She’s pretty good. She lets us handle ourselves until we really can’t.” 24-42 replied.
“We still need Tytus to handle Major Butthead though.” Henna pointed out.
“Maybe we just need to let B42 know that we’re there for them. I know from experience that makes a lot of difference.” 24-42 told her.
“Are you sure you’re ready to be an emotional support Experiment?” Henna joked as they sat down at the table in the lunchroom.
“I guess we’ll find out.” 24-42 chuckled.
–
“You guys look like you had a rough training session.” 24-42 said an hour later as Team B42 forwarded into the lunchroom, looking thoroughly defeated.
“Understatement.” 20-42 couldn’t even muster the energy to look at them suspiciously.
“Not gonna lie, we think MB42 is treating you guys awfully.” Henna said.
“You don’t know the half of it.” 05-42 said, flopping down on the couch.
“I know we don’t exactly get along, but if you need help standing up to him we’re happy to help.” Henna continued.
“There’s no standing up to him. Anything we try just makes him worse. We saw what you did with your Major and we gave that a try.” 20-42 explained as the others got drinks. “He just took it out on us.”
“We’re just lucky M42 has a sense of humour.” 24-42 said.
“And he wants to bone you.” Henna nudged her. 24-42 scowled at her, making her laugh.
04-42 smiled wistfully at them. “Wish we had it as easy as you do.”
“We wish so too. Hey, maybe you could come and train with us, we can show you some of our tricks!” 24-42 suggested.
“Major Butthead would have a fit.” 11-42 said. “He probably would be furious we’re talking to you right now.”
Henna and 24-42 burst out laughing. “You call him Major Butthead too?!” 24-42 asked.
“Of course!” 04-42 grinned.
That was when KB42 walked in. “Hey guys, you okay?” She asked, looking worriedly at his team.
“We’ll live.” 20-42 sighed.
“We’re doing our best to get him to lay off, but you know how he is.” KB42 sighed.
“We’re happy to help if we can.” 24-42 spoke up.
“Thank you Experiment, but I don’t think there’s much you guys can do.” KB42 sighed again.
“What does C42 say?” Henna asked.
“He just ignores her. Unfortunately she can’t get rid of him because no where else will take him. Demoting him won’t work either, because he’s sleeping with LYTH3469-42 and she’s the company lawyer. The whole Project could be wiped out while she ties up litigation and you guys would be euthanized.” KB42 said.
“I never liked LYTH3469-42. She was a cow the entire time during my sign-up.” 11-42 said.
“Tell me about it.” 24-42 added.
“Thankfully as long as he keeps his position, she can’t do anything.” KB42 told them. “Which neither of them will jeopardise, it’s a pretty good gig here, even if it IS for the rest of your life.”
“Hang on, you said if the Project went under that we’d be killed. Why wasn’t M42 killed after Project 24 went under?” 24-42 asked.
“He wasn’t a civilian for a start, plus he was the only survivor. A lot easier to hide than 11 superhumans who aren’t from military backgrounds.” KB24 pointed out.
“Fair point.” 24-42 sighed. “That means that Tytus is pretty much on death row at this point, isn’t he?”
Henna went white.
“Well, I’m not supposed to tell you that, but since you’ve figured it out, yes. 15-42 will be euthanized if they can’t get his cooperation within the next few weeks.” KB42 said sadly.