Lab Rat: Subject 253

In Which She's Worried

     "Ah," Doctor Edward Langley smiles as he approaches. "If it isn't my Little Angel. How are you this sunny afternoon?"

     Ella gulps, rising to her feet. "Sir. I was just making sure Subject 253 had recovered properly after his heat stroke last week," she explains nervously, keeping her back to the trio sitting on the bench behind her.

     "It's quite alright, Ella. I won't punish you for making friends," he tells her almost fondly. "In fact, I'm happy to see you finally letting others in. Even if it is with Subjects." With his hands folded behind his back, the grey-bearded man acknowledges them with a nod. "253... 109... 216."

     Hippy dips his chin in return. Out of all the Doctors, Edward had never caused them any problems. "Hey, man."

     "Doc," Fairy greets. When Flytrap remains silent, he digs his elbow into her side.

    She hisses, slaps him, and then gives in with a roll of her eyes. "Doctor Langley."

    Edward chuckles at her mocking tone. "Never lose that fire, 109." He turns his gaze to Ella. "Ella, dear, Doctor Harrington will be needing your assistance with a new Subject. He'll be searching for you shortly but when I saw you over here... I thought it would be best he didn't see you with them."

    She nods in understanding. Harrington would give her hell for even acknowledging their existence, let alone being friends with them. "Thank you," she responds sincerely.

    "I'll escourt you to him, if you wish."

     "Yes," she answers. Before she leaves, she turns to the group. "Thank you for letting me sit with you."

     "You don't have to thank us, darling," 253, or Hippy as he was nicknamed, told her with a charming smile. "Feel free to join us anytime."

     - -

     Ella knew she shouldn't, but as she gazed upon the unconscious body of a girl no older than 20, she felt saddened.

     The Scientists had always programmed it into her to be indifferent towards the Subjects. And from what she could remember, she had always successfully followed their ways. 

     Until she met him. 

     Subject 253. 

     She remembers the day they brought him in. Brutally injured and barely holding onto life, he had laid on the same table as the young girl was currently, as she helped the Doctors try and stabilise him. 

     In the end, they had almost lost him and it was Doctor Ashford - who was no longer with them - that made the call to inject him with the serum because what did they have to lose at that point?

    Against the odds, he remained strong enough for his body to accept the DNA-changing chemicals, and began to heal rapidly. 

     He cursed the Doctors when he first woke up. She had been present at the time, and very much afraid of him. But he must have seen something in her because he quickly warmed up to her after that, even going as far as flirting with her. 

     A smile lifts her lips as she checks over the girl - who will be known as Subject 405, if she survives the change - and remembers 253's attempts of 'chatting her up' fondly. 

     Ella had heard of relationships before. Many of the Doctors and Scientists were married or 'fooling around'. And if she had to guess, she'd assume her feelings towards 253 were what many people considered a 'crush' or 'attraction'. 

     It wasn't the first time a Subject had tried to bed her, or court her, but it was the first time she enjoyed it...and was willing to risk punishment so it could continue. 

    "How is she?" Doctor Gales questions from his place by the computers. He swivels round in his chair to glance at her. 

    "Her heart is beating a little slower than normal."

    Henry nods thoughtfully. "Anything else?"

   "No," she confirms, placing the circular scanning device down onto the metal table beside her. "When was she injected?" She asks softly, eyes taking in ash-brown hair and a circular face. 

     "Yesterday," Doctor Harrington answers, stepping next to her. "Is that upset I detect in your voice, Ella?"

    "No!" She says a little too quickly. Wide eyes cut over to the taller male with overly-gelled, slicked-back black hair. "I am...simply tired."

    "Hm." The noise he makes through his nose is one of dubiety. "Perhaps Doctor Edward should check you over. We wouldn't want his Little Angel getting too unruly, would we?"

    "Leave her alone, Harrington," Henry tells him, not looking away from the transparent monitor. "It is only natural for her to become sympathetic."

    "'Dangerous' is the word you're looking for," the man shoots Ella a dirty look. 

     She cowers, hiding her face against her shoulder and wishing the ground would swallow her up. Her insides twist like tangled wires and she remains silent. 

     "She will not betray us, my friend," he says pointedly. "This life is all that she has known. Where would she go from here?"

    Harrington's nostril twitches as he sniffs. "Perhaps. Have you heard about the outpost?" He rounds the table with the unconscious girl on it and strides over to the computers. 

     Henry nods, turning in his chair. He glances up at  the other man. "Yes. I agree it's a good idea to send a team out there."

     "I hear they've chosen 253 to go," he glances at Ella as he speaks...and smirks when he notices her go still. "They're worried Eclipse will be expecting us, so they're sending the ones with the highest probability of survival. It'll be interesting to see if someone with the ability to heal, can put themselves back together after being carved into a million pieces..."

     Ella feels frozen, like her feet were locked into the ground. Her mind races, thoughts of 253 hurt...dying...never kissing, or flirting with her ever again. She feels like there's a black-hole consuming her insides. Like her entire body just short-circuited. 

     "Stop, Harrington," Henry scolds, knowing what the other man was doing. "If you're here only to wind her up, I suggest you move onto more important work." No longer was he being friendly; he looked flat-out annoyed. 

     "You are probably right." Doctor Harrington heads to the door. "I'll be around later to check on the patient."

     "Don't listen to him, Ella," Henry tells her once they were alone. "I'm sure 253 will be fine."

     She nods, although finds herself not really listening to him. She can't let this happen. She can't imagine life without him. But how could she stop it? 

     ...She had to save him!

     Maybe...

     Just maybe...

     She bites her lip...

     She could help him escape...