What Memory Remains

Chapter 3

"So...you just drank the rest of your ale and walked out?" William Ostrand said quizzically. He had heard about Zenapharr's actions, but hearing the details of it was all the more alarming.

"Well of course I drank the rest of my ale. I'd hate to waste a perfectly good pint."

"I don't understand. You just butchered thirteen people, all because of a comment that the bartender said. You weren't worried, sad, or still angry afterwards?"

"Not really. The bartender made me angry, so I killed him. I got it out of my system so I went back to my drink. Then the rest approached me and I defended myself."

"Yes, you....'defended' yourself. What about the last man who pleaded for his life?"

"I just explained why I killed him in the story...weren't you listening?"

"I just can't understand your reasoning. What was it about the bartender's comments that made you so mad?"

"It should be obvious from what you already know about me. He brought my mother's name into it..." A passing look of anger seemed to waver over Zenapharr, making William nervous.

"I see, and rightfully so considering all that's happened.

At this, Zenapharr gave a slight nod and moved his eyes downward. William thought at first that the assassin was trying to break eye contact until he noticed Zenapharr's eyes were looking down to his necklace. The half-elf adorned a simple amber stone held by a black leather strand. It only took a moment for William to piece everything together.

"That was your mother's, wasn't it?" He asked tenderly.

"Yes, it was. After she passed it was given to me and I've never taken it off since. "

"Ahh, could I guess that was what happened to that security guard's leg, then?"

"Yes. I was very clear when I told Sade and those other officers I would go peacefully if they would let me keep the necklace on. One of the guards must have had trouble hearing that day, and that is why he now walks with a limp.'

"I can understand under the circumstances of your life. She really meant a lot to you."

"Of course, she was my Mother. To everyone else here at this facility, she was only a number. The same went for me. When they documented tests about me, I wasn't Zenapharr, I was Test Subject 112. Dehumanizing, to say the least. My family...they were the only ones who truly loved me. And then they were taken away."

"Why didn't you run away?"

"This facility life was all I knew. I was afraid of the outside world. Only after I was trained completely through the Minerva military program was I allowed to freely roam outside. I would have been poked and prodded two more years in this NOSRAD facility before I could have my freedom. So strangely after it all, the Injection procedure was not only a curse, but an early way out of here. Since I was a good little monkey and showed some that my results had military applications, Minerva made an offer that NOSRAD had a hard time refusing."

"What exactly was that?"

"Well, they had so many subjects who didn't react to the Injection, NOSRAD was in danger of having their funding pulled. Minerva offered to remedy that solution by giving a generous donation. I was more than glad to leave, considering I was given more freedom and trained to push my skills to the limit. I even got a guaranteed job with the military. NOSRAD seemed reluctant, especially Dr. Pennington, but the Director of NOSRAD seemed convinced they had no other choice."

"I see. So, change of subject, you seem to have a bit of a soft spot for women."

"Don't say that, it makes it sound like a weakness. I have an affinity for them."