War of Elysium

Chapter Six: The Raptors.

        There was so much to be done. Her father left so many questions unanswered. The office was cosy and the team was sweet but...

Adeladia Tempish sighed as she rustled through musty old papers. Half of what lay before her was older than her! Theories and ideas and half spun thoughts. She had gained access to her father's encrypted files. He was on the verge of something but she couldn't tell what. "Argh!" Ade grunted as she banged her head against the desktop. 
"Any progress?" A voice from afar timidly inquired. It was Iris. She tiptoed into the office and sat herself down atop of the desk. A warm hand patted down stray hairs on Ade's head.
"Apotheosis is..." Ade paused to consider. "Self genetic manipulation."
"Huh?" Iris jokingly grunted.
"Somehow, using a specific procedure, Apotheosis allows a person to change something within themselves. What that thing is, or how they do it is a secret my father took to the grave." Ade explained. She rustled through the papers on her desk. "Here." She said, handing Iris a document. "What do you make of it?" 
"A formula?" Iris thought aloud. "The aspect notes suggest it is a catalyst of some kind?"
"Yes!" Ade agreed. "I found a blueprint, errm..." She dug around her papers for a moment before producing a schematic. "Here! It looks to me like-"
"A needle?" Iris interrupted. 
"Exactly. Whatever Apotheosis is, it was injected into the subject and would then begin a reaction within the body. The only question is..." She opened for Iris to finish the thought.
"What is it reacting with?" Iris finished. The two stood in contemplative silence. 
"We need to figure out what this, 'genetic will' is. If we can formulate this, or atleast gather some idea of what it is... Who knows the limits of this 'self modification'?"

The notes referred to 'genetic will' several times. It seemed to Ade like the fuel behind the reaction caused by Apotheosis. With a catalyst and fuel source, the reaction would hopefully become self-evident.

"Argh" Ade grunted again. Her head returned, with a firm thud, to the desk. Iris laughed and stroked the back of Ade's head.
"Ads... It's been days. Go for a walk. Clear your head." Iris suggested. 
"There is much to be done. I've only just begun." Ade protested. Iris looked at her with a worried scorn. She stood and grabbed her wrist communicator from her desk. 
"Lara, darling. Are you there?" She signalled. Ade fell into her papers. She knew Iris had some plan to drag her away from her work.

"Yoohoo." Lara sang as she poked her head through the office door. 
"Lara Black... What the hell are you wearing?" Iris asked with audible disappointment.
"What?" Lara blushed. "I just woke up?" She walked into view and waved to Ade. She wore a bright orange tank top with putrid green sweatpants. In place of her elegant white combat mask, Lara had hastily wrapped a deep purple scarf around her face. Her hair stuck out in all directions as if she had just walked through a wind tunnel. It was an ensemble that left all around in awe, if only for all the wrong reasons.
"It's four thirty." Iris pointed out.
"I'm in recovery!" Lara insisted. Iris looked at her, a mix of pity; peturbance and slight adoration encompassed her. 
"Get dressed." She insisted as she took Lara's hand. "Sort this... Mop, out." She rustled her hand through Lara's hair and laughed. "And take Ade out somewhere."
"Does Ade get a say in this?" Lara joked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, do I?" Ade called from behind her desk.
"Cute." Iris said, pushing Lara out towards her bedroom. 

        Half an hour passed and Ade had made no progress before Lara returned. She looked like another human being all together. Her hair was neatly held in a high bun, she wore a delicate and intricately positioned scarf over her face. Her eyes were perfectly lined, her eyebrows; perfectly shaped. She wore a leather half-jacket and a set of dark, loose cargo pants over a pair of black and pink combat boots. She seemed to stand taller, prouder. "Are we ready then, sweetie?" Lara asked. Ade didn't move for a moment until she felt the icy stare of Iris Commons digging into her. She quickly rose and left ahead of Lara. 
"I'll see you later" Lara said as she departed.
"You kids have fun!" Iris called out.