Desires of Men ~SEQUEL TO THE LIFE I LIVE~

A Question of Ethics

Law pushed her into the hall, closing the door roughly behind him. The nurse whimpered, shrinking into herself when he approached. He grabbed hold of her upper arm again, ensuring that she didn't try to escape.

"Lead me there." He commanded, and she sniffed with a nod.

They walked along the halls, closed doors lined each side as they progressed, and Law tried glancing into all of them, as if Summer would be there waiting.

Law couldn't imagine the mental condition she would be in once he did find her, but he knew she was strong. His only doubts were the severe or repeated mental breaking tortures and experiments. Even the strongest and strong-willed of people had a breaking point, and Law was just hoping they hadn't reached hers.

"Why are you doing this?" The nurse questioned meekly, too scared to look Law in the eyes. He glanced at her, watching where they were going and listening for any sound of pursuit.

"Doing what?" He asked, wondering if he could get any further information from the woman. She sighed.

"Why do pirates always do bad things? Why are you bad people?" He frowned.

"You took my subordinate away against her will, put her in the care of a sadistic murderer, tortured her now and a decade ago, and I'm still the 'bad person?'"

"We search for the truth-"

"You torture for what you call 'science.'" He interrupted. "And in the decade or more you've been 'researching,'" He squeezed her arm rather tightly, gritting his teeth in anger, making sure she was listening, "what sort of worthwhile result have you found?"

She hesitated at first, before swallowing and gaining her courage. "One can't lose faith in the process on the path to success, no matter how many times you fail along the way."

"Tch." It irked him, the way she repeated some mantra or handbook rule. She'd obviously been there a long time, and she was conditioned to believe everything she said. Nothing Law said would make her change her mind. If he weren't too focused on finding Summer, he would've showed her just how wrong she was.

"Up here." The nurse said, directing him around a corner.

~~~

Drip.

"PLEASE!" Summer screamed, squirming around in the chair with all her might, the metal restraints cutting against her wrists and ankles. "LET ME GO!"

Drip.

"Subject 711-A549, do you want the pain to stop?" The intercom system finally came on, and the Doctor spoke.

Drip.

"YES!, PLEASE YES!" She tried yanking on her limbs, but they wouldn't move. Her head was still held firmly in place.

Drip.

"Tell me how to awaken her, and the pain will stop."

Drip.

~~~

Dr. Hideki was covered in blood, many cuts littered across his body and it was horrifying, at least to Nurse Kent. She tried breathing evenly, glancing between the several pirates that held them at gunpoint. Why had everything gone so wrong?

Two of the pirates walked around to all the staff, one by one, and patted them down for anything that could risk their own safety. One passed her by, but it seemed it wasn't her turn yet. The doctor next to her, he probably worked in a different department since she didn't recognize his face, nudged her gently. She barely turned her head, to avoid detection. He glanced down at his hand, and she followed his gaze. He held an emergency dialer, a personal one. Her eyes widened, swallowing nervously. She had no doubt that if the pirates knew, they'd kill them instantly.