Project: Strato

"The Organization"

Waking up in the place I've called home for the only part of my life I can say I remember. I know nothing of the world outside of this facility. I can't even recall the simplest of my childhood(Assuming I did have one). I'm sure every kid in this place doesn't have any family on the outside. I don't even have a real name in this place, They gave me the title" Subject 12", They refuse to acknowledge us as real people. So we go by the subject numbers they've given us.

The kids I've come to know as my best and only friends have against protocol given each other real names despite what the Adults we refer to as "The Authority" ordered us not to. "Subject 8" also known as "Annabeth" to me and Subject 9 who also goes by "Dylan". Subject 8 chose the name Annabeth because he favorite characters in literature were named Anna and Elizabeth, She couldn't choose so she just combined them into one. Dylan also chose his name from a character in literature. I didn't see the point of choosing a real name, but my friends eventually got me to come around and choose one. I settled upon the name "Delsin", because well... I don't really know, but I like it. Annabeth is 16, Dylan is 16, and so am I. We don't celebrate birthdays here, because we really know are true birthdates, we only know the year. So, we chose January 1st, just a celebration date amongst ourselves.

Annabeth is a very fair-skinned person with orange-ish long hair, athletic shape, and about 5'6(about an inch taller than me). Dylan is of Korean descent, With brownish short hair, very athletic, and about 5'7. I'm medium-skinned, Dark-brown Sandy hair, Athletic as well, and as you guessed it 5'5. My friends and I are really all we have, The other subjects don't really like us, because "The Authority" say we have the most potential and require more training than the rest.

"....Subject 12" The man dressed in a lab coat says to me, after I start coming around to where I am I am listening intensively. "Focus...Continue to try to move the jar in front of you" He says. I looked down to notice the Giant clear glass jar on the table in front of me. They have this Device on my head... I'm guessing to monitor brainwave activity to perform the task at hand. I tried to focus myself to do what the man said and move the jar. After a while nothing seemed to be happening. I tried to... I really did, but nothing happened. "..Subject 12.." said the man in front of me. After another while of disappointment, The man says "Enough, we'll reschedule another time, Go eat with the others" disappointedly. "No, I can get it" I say. The jar didn't move an inch. "...Subject 12..." He sounded agitated now. "I CAN GET IT!" I yell. I should probably mention that I can't handle pressure, or the feeling of someone being disappointed in me for that matter.

I start to feel a pressure rise and build up within me. I started hearing the man's voice again, but I didn't care. He called out more and more trying to get me to stop. I hadn't noticed the red liquid leaking from my nose and would not have cared if I did, I had come to far to stop. Using my ability in such a forceful manner was like pulling a muscle in my brain. The jar was violently shaking now, but that wasn't the only thing occurring. The windows surrounding me in the room began started to violently shake as well. "SUBJECT 12" Yelled the man, fearing for what's to come he tried to grab my arm to get me to stop. As soon as he touched me I let out a mind-numbing shriek from the pressure building up inside. The jar and the windows surrounding me and the man combusted, shattering everywhere. The man in front of me also went flying backwards into the wall behind him knocking him and me into unconsciousness.

I wake up in my dorm-like room surrounded by my friend's beds and belongings. They both entered through the door at the same time."Are you ok ...they told us it happened again?" Annabeth said. " You pushed yourself too hard as usual, Del" sighed Annabeth. " I told you, we don't even know are limits, We don't even know what it's doing to our bodies and It could be slowly killing us" Annabeth lectured. "I know" I apologized. "Then why do you keep doing this to us" Dylan joined. "We're all we got in this place man, we can't lose each other like this." He finished. "Guys I'm sorry," I said. " I know we don't know our limits, I just thought that if I did what they said then maybe they'll give us answers or better yet let us go". "Del, They'd never let us go, you have to know that by now" Annabeth stated. "Maybe it could happen, Annabeth" Dylan said "These people only care about results" Annabeth contradicted "My point exactly, If we give them what they want and exceed, they'll have to keep us happy" I said. "Del, I honestly don't know, but that doesn't sound true." Annabeth said. "Listen just don't let it get to that point anymore ok?...Tell us you'll stop... that you'll be in control" Annabeth said. "...Yeah guys, ill stop it before it gets to that point". "Thank you" Annabeth said, Dylan agreed.

"Guys, you know you shouldn't be up this late" a familiar voice said. "Of course, V we were just taking some sense into Delsin" Annabeth said.

V was one of less than a handful of people that actually viewed us as people and not numbers on a chart. She was always there for a talk or if you wanted to a question answered. She was always there as a helping hand.

"We'll talk more later, ok, you know all of you have to participate in the King of the Hill challenge tomorrow " V said as she closed our door. How could we have forgotten about tomorrow I thought. Annabeth and Dylan both climbed into their own beds and slept through the night awaiting tomorrow.