SQUAD - Season 2

Episode 2 - Drone

Merritt

The world spin around Merritt daily, and she couldn't do anything to change her predicament.

She was stuck here, yet she constantly bounced around each day like nothing was wrong.

Merritt, the real Merrit, was stuck on the sidelines, watching as the DDA Merritt controlled the physical side of Merritt. Several times Merritt had tried to take down the DDA drone, but it wouldn't budge. She needed someone to reach out to her. To reach out to the true Merritt before she could find her way back.

Surely, for Lauren and Jimmy, this was also the case.

Everyday when Merritt woke up, when both Merritts woke up, the original Merritt pleaded that someone would call her out on being a fake.

She pleaded everyday that she could finally regain control, and every night she went to bed disappointed and helpless.

Madi

The world quieted significantly at around 7:00 PM in the fall. Everyone seemed to be more subdued as the sky got darker, earlier.

However, this was not the case with Merritt, Lauren and Jimmy. It was even more disheartening, however, that Emma hadn't shown up to Cross Country practice today.

As it came to a close, everyone got quieter and spoke in hushed tones.

Other than the DDA trio of course.

"That practice was just DANDY," Merritt chimed as everyone stood on the back lawn waiting for their parents to arrive.

"Yeah," Madi sighed. "Just dandy."

"I LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!" Lauren cried, even though Madi was right next to her, and could hear her just fine. Lauren tended to shout more often now. Well, DDA Lauren did.

"You know," Madi said. "You guys have been acting kind of weird recently..."

Merritt

Merritt felt it. She felt the blow Madi had just dealt to the fake that currently had control of her. She prayed Madi would continue to call them out on their over the top weirdness.

"Really...?" Drone Merritt asked. "I thought I was acting DANDY myself."

Madi frowned. "Yes, Merritt, really. It's words like DANDY that are throwing me off."

Merritt felt it again.

Drone Lauren looked at Madi. "GEEZ! STOP BEING SO HARSH JUST BECAUSE WE AREN'T WALKING ATLASES."

"Wow, Lauren. Really. Wow. I know what's going on. You're a mindless DDA controlled soldier."

And then, Merritt saw it in Lauren's eyes. They slowly stopped looking glossy, and got back their human gleam.

Lauren looked dazed. "Madi!" she shouted.

Madi sighed. "Stop yelling! I want the real Lauren back!"

Lauren smiled. It was surely genuine. "You're looking at her."

Madi shook her head. "How do I know that...?"

But Merritt didn't see what happened next, because the drone began walking her towards her car, as it had just pulled up.

"Bye guys! See you tomorrow! Have a DANDY evening!!!"

They didn't pay attention to her. Madi was too busy questioning Lauren.

As the drone got into the car, Merritt began to sink lower than she ever had throughout this whole experience. She had come so close, and yet, the drone had piloted her away before she could be saved like Lauren.

Merritt's mom began to pull away from the school. "How was practice?"

The drone smiled widely. "Practice was DANDY."

Merrit's mom raised an eyebrow. "...whatever. I'm glad to hear it."

The drone nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty DANDY, isn't it?"

Merritt watched hopelessly for the rest of the day, hoping that Lauren would be able to free her from this nightmare the following day.