Dominance

Chapter 9: Information Overload

With the kitchen tidied mostly to what it once was, clean really being too strong a word, everyone once again settled at the battered table.

Eric sat on one side, and Twister and Sparkie on the other. With the promise of insight, Sara had calmed down considerably but decided being close to the brothers was ironically the safest place and had wedged herself in between them.

Eric grumbled to himself, an ancient bag of frozen peas squashed against his cheek, while he again toyed with his laptop. Sara avoided looking at him and found herself gawkily staring down at some kind of breakfast condiment that was stuck on the end of Twister's tail. He either hadn't noticed it was there, or he didn't care.

Norman reappeared from another section of the apartment carrying a Carrots In Pyjamas themed lunchbox, and two pairs of worn jeans. He shook his head at Eric and then offered Sara an apologetic look. Sara said nothing and the mood remained awkward and edgy.

Eric shifted the peas against the swelling on his head.

"I thought you said they wouldn't have powers, Norman. "He mumbled through gritted teeth.

"They shouldn't have. Well, nothing exceptional. Not without a source to draw from." Norman barked back.

"Well, so much for that. It felt pretty almighty to me."

"So then..." Norman cleared his throat as he fumbled open the plastic lunchbox, which was revealed to be a makeshift sewing container. "You must have many questions."

"I have an infinite amount of questions," Sara responded bitterly.

Norman chuckled. "Let me ask you this first. How did you get mixed up with these two?" He nodded towards the twin brothers, who had thus far remained silent. "As Eric crudely put earlier, it would be very difficult to escape the facility, and we've had no strategic opportunities to successfully break them out."

"Like I said, I didn't really do anything. I was on a field trip with my class. But we were all taken to that place instead. I think our relief teacher planned it."

Norman was taken aback. "Normally the GRC is only authorised to take human test subjects that are mediocrities. The homeless, orphans, inmates on death row; for example. People who won't be missed. For them to do something so drastic..."

An intrigued expression shifted into Norman's tired burgundy eyes as his voice trailed off.

Eric snorted at Sara. "Your friends are just lab rats now," he revealed sourly.

"Why?" She whispered grimly.

Norman rubbed his chin in thought.
"Why indeed. The abruptness. Right now of all times..."

"You think it was planned?"

"I don't think it was a coincidence."

"Well, considering how much has gone to shit in the last twenty four hours, why that particular group of students? I guess the Gates group could have taken a bunch of kids from anywhere, from somewhere close to the facility, and people would probably be none the wiser."

The bouncing debate certainly urked Sara, but Norman encouraged her to explain what happened. As she recalled the traumatic event he cut and pulled apart the rear middle seams of the jeans he was holding, then messily stitched the backsides of the denim thoroughly to stop the seams freeing any further. Obviously sewing was not his area of expertise.

Sara spoke of the abduction, of the bus scene that followed, then four-legged Tyson with Clyde and Ashlee's alarming acceptance of him- when Norman stopped her with a raise of his hand.