Galatea 2 - Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22: INVESTIGATION ONE

A singular bulb dangling from the middle of the room exploded with light, causing Audrey to squint and put a solitary hand in front of her face to minimize the glare. Before her stood two men, one more federally-oriented man with a black suit and shades she did not recognize, the other being General L’Enfant himself. How could she ever forget him?

“So… tsk, tsk, tsk…” the man in black clicked his tongue as he ran a finger down a long list, searching for name. Just another interviewee in a long list for the day. “...Audrey, is there anything you’d like to say regarding the events related to one Mr. Kevin Giles?”

“I’d like to be released,” she replied grumpily, crossing her arms underneath her massive breasts.

“Well, you and I both know that can’t be done unless we get to the bottom of what happened at that college,” the man in black spoke, readjusting the glasses on his face.

“Exactly, so comply! Unless you want a one-way trip to the bottom of the ocean!” the General threatened, banging his fist on the table. If the man in black was the “good” cop, L’Enfant was the worst cop.

The smaller man put a calming hand on the General. “What my eager compatriot here is trying to say is that we have a rather frightening amount of jurisdiction over you at the moment.”

Not exactly calming words for a college student to hear, especially Audrey, who’s heart rate was rapidly accelerating with every beat.

“I-I want a phone call. I-I’m allowed to do that, right?” she asked, needing some semblance of control.

“I’m afraid not, Audrey. We can’t have you telling outsiders what are now officially government secrets about government property,” the man in black replied rather frankly, not seeming to care much about the level of stress Audrey was under.

“Christ! What will my parents think when they find out I’m not in College but in some maximum-security government prison!?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about your parents. They don’t know you’re here and they won’t need to know.”

“Wh-what do you mean they won’t know!?” Audrey shouted, shooting up from her seat in anger, only for her to slowly slump back into her seat when four fully-armed men with riot gear pivoted forward from the shadows, their assault rifles all aimed her way. She then repeated her question, only softer and nearing tears.

“What I mean is, when this interview is over, it will be as if it never happened. Your memory will be wiped, and you will be made to believe that you were still on your vacation trip with Brian. Similar excuses will be made for Vanessa.”

“A-and what about the professor?”

“He will not be returning. That much is clear.” The man paused for a moment to rub the tiredness from the bridge of his nose, Audrey catching a glimpse of his eyes—of which one was missing—a large scar plastered over it lengthwise. “All you need to know is that, in this business, we are rather competent at making threats disappear. Hopefully, it brings you tranquility to hear that my employers do not see you as one.”

“Then what the hell do you need me for? Hurry up and just wipe my memory and send me home! I don’t wanna be here anymore!” She could no longer hold back tears anymore.

“It’s quite simple, we merely need you to state, on the record, what the experimental virus has done for your body. Also, any allergies you suffer, in case we need to switch amnesiacs.”

It took Audrey a good while to psych herself up to respond. “W-well, it’s a little hard to explain but, the virus made me look more, er, beautiful? Is that even something that can be quantified?”

“We would prefer it if you were more specific overall.”

“Okay, er, maybe if I could just show you a picture of what I once looked like? Um, though you guys did take my phone.”

“Just tell us what superpowers you got, already!” General L’Enfant raised his voice impatiently, ready to bang his fist on the table again were it not for the steady hand of the eyeless man calming him.

“Apt, if unnecessary in tone, General,” the man in black spoke, waiting a full five seconds before lowering his hand in an almost robotic fashion. “While calling them ‘superpowers’ is rather juvenile, if you have experienced any enhancements that would fall above the standard purview of your fellow humans, please let us know at once.”

“Um, I don’t know? Enhanced strength? Better memory? As for allergies, I was allergic to shellfish but I think the virus actually cured me of that. Ugh, I don’t know all the little eccentricities! Why don’t you just ask Dr. Giles!? I’m sure he knows exactly what junk he put inside of me!”

“We will be asking him, but we need outside corroboration with what he says in the event he attempts to deceive us.” He then leaned forward, halfway past the interrogation desk that separated the girl and the two men. “Audrey, may I be honest with you for a moment?”

“Um, sure?”

“Kevin Giles… his research is leaps and bounds above anyone else in the world. There’s no other human currently alive who knows more about virology than he does. If we manage to replicate his work, think about what that could mean for humanity? Everyone could be at peak physical health. Doctors could administer this virus to save lives! You are on the precipice of the next step of human evolution. Now, you can see why your honesty is imperative, no?”

“I-I suppose so…”

“Very good. Now, please, speak clearly into the recording device located in the center of the table.”

Audrey did as she was told. Though, she neglected to mention her recent sand-related telekinesis. That was something she wanted to keep between her and Brian, and there was a nagging voice in the back of her head screaming at her to reveal as little as possible. While she was anxious, she reasoned that she’d be fine omitting such a minor detail. After all, it wasn’t like Giles could corroborate it if he really wanted to.

All Audrey could do was hope that Brian kept his mouth shut if they planned to interview him.

***

Vanessa sat motionless within her holding cell, cross-legged as her vibrant viridian pupils stared straight ahead. While many found it odd, the guards weren’t paying attention, save for the odd ogle she received. Such was the case when her attire of imprisonment was still the low-cut dress she had been arrested in.

She hadn’t spoken a word since she had been detained, which would have been a red flag had these suits known the first thing about her. To them, she seemed unresponsive as to not reveal any secrets, but in truth, she was focusing her mind.

The guards, they alternated in fifteen minute shifts. During the trade off, there was a ten-second window when she could confirm no one was observing her, judging by the occupied thoughts of the officers. Not only that, there was a security camera opposite her cell, one which panned left and right in constant motion. Based on the near-encyclopedic knowledge of security cameras she now possessed from glancing at a Wikipedia article about them five years ago, she recognized hers as a PTZ Dome with a 25 meter range. That meant when it fully tilted as far away from her as possible, the left side of her body would be completely out of frame from where she was sitting. If these two factors happened to line up, then she had some wiggle room.

While this window of opportunity was too small for the average detainee to make much use of, Vanessa was no average detainee. Soon, the guards would discover that she was not stuck in this prison with them, but instead, they were stuck in this prison with her.