Stories From the Lab- DELED Lore

Beya

Part 1:

A Tour

"And when we go into the lab, what can we tell the other kids?"

"My Momma made all of this. She's so smart."

"Good, good. What do we do if someone makes fun of us?"

"Beat 'em up!"

"Amazing! You're going to be just fine sweetie. Momma's gotta go to work now. JANE! Take Beya to the tour group... Beya, don't forget your lunch ...... We don't have all day, Jane!"

Kareenah Delared is a tall woman with a stern but loving face. She is the owner of the world's most successful science and human research facilities in the world. She always wears long dresses with scarves, most often sporting the company's signature yellow, and they accentuated her height. If her tall, looming figure and international multimillionaire face didn't put you in your place, you most certainly would be after hearing her voice. Who knows how you can sound so gentle and so harsh at the exact same time? Yes, Kareenah could bring an aura of authority to any place, and she made sure everyone knew it.

Beya Delared. Twelve years old, but she looks-- and sometimes acts-- older. The first genetically enhanced girl by birth in DELED industries. By ten years of age, as the scientists will tell you, she could easily lift more than three times her weight. Her hair is long and blonde like her mother's, and she loves how it looks. She loves herself in general. It's not because she is self centered, no, but because she knows just how special she is. When she visits her friends in the containment area, they tell her all they have learned that day. What new inventions are being discussed, what the scientists are planning for them, and most importantly, how much they love having Beya as a friend.

Today, Beya was touring the lab facility for the first time with a group of outsiders. Her mother had told her that it was to show the important discoveries off to people who might give them money. Beya loved that idea. Anything that helped the project was good, and she loved hearing stories from her friends about the new things that they had gotten from previous funding contributions.

Beya was walking with Jane along a sidewalk that led from their house to the main facility. Jane was Beya's caretaker when Kareenah wasn't around. She was a nice woman, but very small, and she stayed very still and quiet around Kareenah. Together, they made their way down the path and Beya thought about her friends. She wasn't going to the containment today, but to the lab, so she was ready to tell them a story afterwards. She especially couldn't wait to tell Sue.

Sue was yet another friend at the containment area. She was exactly her age and she was very smart. She went to a special class with the other kids that taught her all about the other realms that the scientists were working to contact. Sue played an important part. Beya knew this because she was checked on the most. Sue was the best friend Beya had ever had. But Beya grew a bit more sad when Sue had told her about what the scientists' next project for her was. The scientists planned to enhance her sight, so that Sue could see more than other kids. Beya didn't want Sue to be operated on, because her other friends that had been operated on had never come back. But Sue reassured Beya that they would see each other again after it was done. For now, Sue had not yet been operated on, so Beya felt safe.

As Beya and Jane reached the front steps to the lab, Beya saw many different people. There were about twenty men and women in suits and dresses, and thirteen or so small children sitting politely on the highest step in a neat row. Beya ran up to them.

"Hi! My name is Beya! What are your names?" She asked in her most polite voice, trying to fit into the dressed up atmosphere.

The children were silent. They looked at her. Compared to her black leggings and sweater they were very fancy. The kids were as dressed up as the grown-ups, and were most likely told to be quiet so the adults could converse. Jane had also met the other adults at the top of the steps in front of the main doors. She said a quick hello to them and began to go through the hand-and-eye scan process.