Here We Go

Here We Go Part 10

[Syntec Location 3, the vault area, 2:33 pm]

591: Guess your time is up, isn't it?

Matt, grimacing through the pain: Not yet.

Somehow, Matt hauled himself to his feet, briefly staggered, but stood. The glare that was directed to 591 was vicious and icy. Matt's voice was the same.

Matt: Are we going or not?

Everyone, but 591, winced at Matt's tone. 591 pulled chains out of a pocket. He went to everyone, save Bailey, and attached their wrists. He attached a chain to his wrist, right in front of Wesley.

Bailey: What about me?

591: You're not a problem.

And he dragged them out the door. Once he had crammed everyone into the U-Haul truck he had driven, he texted Nelson Syphus.

591, texting: We have a haul.

Syphus, texting: Specifics?

591: Project 863, and your "co-workers"

591: And subject 1 has been exposed

Syphus: Perfect, I'll alert the ICU, and 748. Good work 591

591: Thank you sir.

591 drove them to the new Syphus HQ and reversed into the garage. He parked the U-Haul, then got out. Phantom 748 was waiting. He pulled a dart gun out of his pocket.

591: This'll work on 863?

748: Yes. They may have faint memories of what happened, but the brainwashing will take care of that.

591: Good. Now some of us won't have to pay to Nelson.

748 gave him a slight glance. Most would have taken it as 'wimp', but between phantoms, it was a look of understanding and pity. All the remaining Phantoms knew about the abuse that 591 took for them. Not saying that they weren't abused, but 591 took the brunt of it from Nelson.

748 watched as 591 opened the door to the U-Haul. Matt was breathing laboriously.

Deb: Give him the antidote! As those who suffer from the serum, you know he's in pain! Please!

591 detached Wes and Deb from the others. 748 climbed into the U-Haul and pulled out an injection gun. It was full of serum. Matt grimaced. 748 knew that this man needed it, yet he didn't seem to crave it like others. 748 injected Matt, trying to block out the screams of pain. That was one thing that all the phantoms, other than the abuse from Nelson, they all shared. Pain from the serum.

Sam began to sob, but Woods sat, unmoving. 748 completed the second, necessary injection, then darted Matt, Sam, and Woods with the memory darts. He then went about brainwashing. The plan was to make them think they got out of the vault once the trap was done, and Matt went to the hospital. He had been there a week, and Sam and Woods were going to visit him. When in reality, they were at the Syntec "hospital", having Subject 1 (Matthias) tested on.

He did his best to ignore Deborah crying in the background. Once he finished, other Phantoms came to put them into place. He hopped out of the U-Haul and grabbed Deb's arm. 748 was one of the most advanced Phantoms. The most advanced, that was still with Nelson, was 591. Who had a grip on Wes. Wes glanced at Deb, wanting to know if he should try to make a break for it. She pressed her lips together. It was too risky now. But he could make it rough for 591. 591 went to grab his arm, but Wes gave him a nice jab in the stomach with his elbow. However, 591 was still advanced for a phantom. 591 ignored the jab and wrapped Wes into a headlock instead.

591 hissed into Wesley's ear: I highly recommend NOT trying that. Now, move!

591 gave him a rough shove towards Nelson's office. Once they arrived, 748 knocked at the door.

Syphus: Come in.

He was sitting at his desk, his fingers in a pyramid.

Syphus: Well, well, well, so nice to finally see you two again.

[3:06 pm, ICU, Room 8]

Matt had been watching some older videos of him, Sam, and Woods when he heard a soft knock at the door. Sam and Woods came in with flowers and a bag full of strange candies. They reminisced and enjoyed each other's company, something that hadn't happened for a long time. But, it couldn't last forever. Woods and Sam had found a tape when Matt was dealing with the serum effects. (They thought they remembered something else, but couldn't) Matt was confused about why they thought it was so important.

Matt: What is this?

Sam: Take it out. You'll understand.

Matt pulled the VHS tape out of its case and taped onto the top of the tape was the date 08/06/03. 863.

Matt: We need to see this. Have you guys seen it yet?

Woods & Sam: No.

Sam: But can you just leave the hospital? The receptionist will see you going out the main door here.

Woods: But what about the door a little to the left? It's closer to the exit and harder for her to see.

Matt: Sounds great. Uh..could you turn away for a minute? I don't want you to see this.

Matt yanked the IV needle out of his hand with an "Ow!" Woods handed him his backpack, and they raced out the other door to the room.

Receptionist: Miss? Miss!

They rushed out the exit, into the daylight. Woods' car was parked not far away.

Matt: Move, move, move!

They ran to it and jumped in. Woods locked the doors and screeched out of the parking lot, with employees left standing there.

[Nelson Syphus Office, 3:47 pm]

Receptionist, on call: Sir? Pr- Project 863...(sighs) Project 863...Escaped.

Syphus, on call: WHAT?! [Echoes]