Half of Ruby

Chapter 10

White. 

White. White. White. Whitewhitewhite—

Black. Red. Yellow. Blue. 

A myriad of colors snaked through the gray fog of semi-consciousness. 

Silence. 

She marveled at the absence of sound. Something told her she would never experience such a thing again. 

Her first emotion was awe. 

~~~

"That's...me?" 

Ruby stared up at the glass tank, breath fogging up her view. Beyond the cool, slippery surface floated a girl.

And not just any girl. 

With her long, dark hair, pale skin, crimson lips, and slender frame, Ruby's clone resembled her in every way possible except for one—she was smiling.  

"No, that's the clone. And you made a grammatical mistake there."

Ruby turned back to Dr. Merlan and glared at him. "Well, not all of us can afford the same higher-end education as you nobles."  She stared at the clone again. "I...do we release her? Here?" 

The Doctor shook his head. "Not in the research and data room. Back there." He gestured to the first room Ruby had occupied—the Lynch Stick room. 

Ruby swallowed. "I just...enter Regeneration? Just like that?" 

"No, not just like that. I will explain to you the process of Regeneration and answer any questions you have first. You will have to establish your mental connection with your clone."

"There's a video about Regeneration?" spluttered Ruby. "I know everything already." 

"Nonetheless, I have to follow protocol." Dr. Merlan forced a smile-less smile at Ruby. "I, unlike you, cannot volunteer for such a procedure." 

Ruby blinked, startled, suddenly remembering Jinx. Somehow, with Reinevra's appearance and her good-byes to Astaria and Aesha, she'd forgotten all about him. But the recollection of who she was Regenerating for only brought a half-grimace to her face. It seemed as though Reinevra's dissection of her emotions only tangled them up more. 

"Fine," she finally huffed. 

"Excellent," said Dr. Merlan. "I'm glad Her Majesty agreed to this without trying to behead me."

"Beheading you would've just made you uglier," snapped Ruby. "Show me the video." 

"Oh? Well, I think you should teach me about ugliness first, since you're so well-educated in it. One of the few things peasants know too, I must add—"

He never finished that sentence. 

With a furious screech, Ruby flung herself at him. "HOW DARE YOU!"

Dr. Merlan yelped as he crashed into the bank of computer screens. Wires fizzed furiously as the electronics spat burning sparks at the two of them. 

"Don't you dare insult me like that!" yelled Ruby, slapping him across his old, wrinkle-worn cheekbones. "Don't you dare insult us like that!"

"I," spluttered the Doctor, "I—"

Another slap resounded across the room. "You what?" demanded Ruby. "You slimy little weasel—"