xiaomiau

The Two Sides

Misha's eyes began to water as the scientist spoke. She bit her cheek to hide the emotion. There was no point in voicing her distress if the woman was going to continue her cold and clinical dissection - or what felt a dissection. A dissection of psyche. Of genetics? Misha would have rather wiped her heredity clean - shifting and all - than suffer through any of this. Get rid of my family line? Sign me up, she thought grimly, clenching her fists as the scientist shocked her again.

Liwei pointed down the hall. "The van will be running out there. All you have to do is find the door at the end of that hallway, and we'll be waiting." He straightened his spine and started towards his superior's office, a bead of anxiety forming in the pit of his stomach.

The Two Sides

The camp was as full as ever, but Dione felt cold and empty. She paced through the tents and scattered fire pits, peering into the woods with each step she took. Each lap she took became more and more bleak. It had been hours since she had seen Ambrose; in fact, it had been hours since anyone had seen Ambrose. As a cold gust of wind entered the camp, Dione took a break for her pacing and anxiously made her way to one of the fire pits. She ran her soft hands through the bouncing rings of her hair, blowing slightly in the autumn breeze. Unease was evident on her face as she grew more and more worried about the boy. I really have to find him! He's probably hurt - or worse. She glanced around, searching for someone to help her.

The Two Sides

Misha spat as the woman pulled the gag from her mouth. "The patient reports that.. Fuck you!" she hissed blearily, baring her teeth. She tried to headbutt the scientist but didn't get far.

Liwei had turned the speaker setting on before the call, so canon had been conveniently retconned into Ambrose and Mona hearing the call. Liwei frowned. "Sure, boss. I'll send him over." He clicked the phone off. "Alright - new plan. I bring Ambrose to The Boss. Then I leave and pick up a van. Mona runs for the lab while the scientists are gone. She grabs the girl and brings her to the van." He glances at Ambrose. "By the time we have that taken care of, the meeting should be over and you can just run out and get in the van! The old guy won't be able to chase and everyone else will be gone."

The Two Sides

Misha eyed the machine with wide eyes. She clenched her jaw as the scientist began to fumble with the dials. There was nothing to grab and cut herself free, no obvious tricks to help her escape. She struggled one last time against the restraints that held her firmly to the bed before she closed her eyes and braced herself for the shock. She let out a cry of pain through the fabric but she didn't feel the familiar process of shifting to her animal form. She wanted to think or say something sarcastic about the futility of this torture, but she didn't feel up to the task.

Liwei began sweating. "Uh.. what do you mean, boss? Important how?"

The Two Sides

@Hawksnest565 Misha made a choked yelp as the doctor jammed the cloth into her jaw. She screwed her eyes shut tight again the panic of what she could only imagine the scientists had planned for her, but she made sure to snap open her eyes to shoot the women with a look of betrayal and rage. Not human trafficking.. Sure, sure, she thought, rattling against the restraints again. I'm going to kill him if I ever get a chance.

Liwei froze at the vibration of something cold and hard in his pocket. He slid his hand into the fabric and pulled out his mobile phone. He had forgotten it was with him, but he was suddenly reminded as he read his superior's caller ID on the smooth screen. "Shhh," he hissed, putting a finger to his lips as he answered the phone. "Hello, sir," he said calmly, putting on an air of confidence as he spoke into the receiver.

The Two Sides

Liwei's tan head cocked to the side in a motion of thought. He was still for a moment - then, with a shrug and a raise of his brows, he looked back at Ambrose. "That sounds doable, actually. So, we just swoop in and grab the girl? What if the doctors don't buy it?"

The Two Sides

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Mona listens to their conversation, then blinks a bit in surprise at his question. "No. Those alarms are foolproof. The only way they actually work is to start a fire or earthquake..." She ponders that. "If we started a small fire in the kitchen, there'd be enough time to get to your friend as they evacuate and slip out midst the chaos...but we'd have to be as fast as possible. The cooks know how to put out fires quickly."

@Fionraella

"Let's do it," Liwei said, straightening his spine to mime an air of confidence. "We could grab the cooking oil, pour it over the stove.. Oh, we'll figure it out." He grinned at her, then turned back to the boy. "We should probably find a plan B, though. Someone needs to stay behind and help the others if something goes wrong."

The Two Sides

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Ambrose's face fell. "Oh..." He mutters, the reality of what they knew, clicking. He sighs heavily. "I don't want us all to get killed, of course not, but I can't sit by and let a fellow shifter be killed..." He looks at Liwei painfully. "Do they recognize me? Like do they know what I look like? If not, my idea could still work!"

@Fionraella

Liwei sighed, tempted to move his hand to the boy's shoulder in a sign of comfort but wary of startling him. "We only have two active subjects. They would know." His face contorted in deep thought. "We could... hm. Do you think we could trip the alarms and make the scientists evacuate?" He looked back at Mona. "Would that work?"

The Two Sides

@Fionraella Liwei shook his head. "What's the point of getting all of us killed?" He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh to maintain himself. "Listen - they were looking for a pair of shifters with different chromosomes to start off the control group tests. I guess we could tell them The Boss changed his mind, but the lead scientist is pretty bureaucratic.."

The Two Sides

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Ambrose nods, and rubs his inner elbow where the syringe had been injected. It stung slightly. "Maybe..." His eyes light up. "You could wheel me in there under that sheet, say that I should be tested first." Ambrose was unaware of them knowing he wasn't biologically male. "And then when we're switching, I pop out and grab one of them! And then you grab the other and Misha is saved!"

@Fionraella

Liwei stroked his chin. "Mm.. Not sure if that would work." He furrowed his blows. "The scientists have been briefed that you aren't part of the main trials anymore. If we aren't careful, they'll start to suspect.." He glanced back at Mona with a suppressed shiver. They were playing a dangerous role, and neither of them were armed and prepared for a fight. "We really need to think this over." And we have to do it fast, otherwise that poor girl is going to get hurt.