The Lab (Septiplier)

Chapter 2; Mark

August 7th, 2009
  College is supposed to be the fun years. No one ever told me that it would take up all my time, cost a fortune, and that there are so many different scientific fields! I mean sure, there are lots of things to study, but does there really have to be quite that many? Regardless, I was bored. It was almost like the entire science wing was purposefully trying to devour any life left in my body. I already knew all of what we were learning. Thankfully, the internship project got started this month. Not only is it going to give me the opportunity to explore many different job fields, but will give me chance to get a job at The Lab. The Lab is a high esteemed research facility somewhere in the middle of nowhere, in California. Now sure, it seems shady, but really who can judge? If you saw how much they pay interns, you'd be begging for the job.
  Today was the first day of the internship, but my only notice of what I was supposed to do was an anonymous phone call at nine this morning saying a car would pick me up at my house. They wouldn't tell me the time so I'm just waiting for the doorbell. It's stupid, especially for someone of my intelligence, but what else can I do? Maybe if I wait they will call again? I almost mustered up the will to move when the sharp trill of my ringtone sounds. I scramble to my feet and lunge for my phone, barely making it before the last ring. A little breathless, I answer.
  "Mr. Fischbach?" The voice clearly has a filter over it. It seems to be a different voice than the one from the call earlier, but both seem male so it's difficult to tell.
  I take a quiet deep breath to steady myself, "That's me,"
  "Ah, wonderful. Glad to see your alive and well. Our company taxi service should be here to escort you,"
  I reply, chipper. "Wonderful! I'll be right out!"
  "See you soon Sir", The person ends the call.
  First off, Sir? Second, alive? Third, hehehe... money. Focus Fischbach. You have a car to get to. I grab my coat and phone as I head out the door. To find. A limousine. Taxi my ass, this is god tier transportation! I rush over to the chariot of gods, and someone from the inside opens the door. I slide into the empty seat, quickly buckling my seatbelt and shutting the door. The shaded windows and black leather interior of the limo make the space dark, but the person on the other side of the car was still visible. They pushed a button and the interior lights came on.
  "Mark Fischbach?"
I didn't recognize the woman sitting across from me. She was wearing a crisp suit, and I felt very underdressed in her presence. She had small oval glasses and her hair was up in a ponytail. I realize I'm staring and nod a few times as I look away ashamedly. Her voice is level, almost monotone. "Your internship at the company is greatly appreciated, we hope one day you will choose to work here."
  "I hope to as well, for as long as you're hiring."
  "Always. It's a rare occurrence when we have enough employees on hand."
I shuffle nervously, "Ah, uh I'm glad I can fill in a position."
She shifted forward to slide a glass panel closed and knocked on it twice. The limousine started moving, quickly making it out of my neighborhood. However, once we were cut off from the driver, the woman let out a sigh and I nearly jumped at the sound. She leaned back slouching into the chair, clearly more comfortable, and extended a hand.
"It's nice to meet you, my name is Claire."
I reached out to shake her hand, as I replied, "Nice to meet you too."
"Sorry for the formalities, the company requires it and Steven here," she jabbed a thumb at the driver, "is quite the stickler for the rules around interns. I swear the people you'll be working with are so much more chill. What sector are you going to be working in?"
"I'm working in the Bio-zoology sector," Claire's eyes lit up with interest as I spoke. "It's under the supervision of Ms. Abeyss? Well I think so anyway, I forget."
She chuckled, "Meeting with your boss on the first day I see. Trying to get a good reputation already?"
"You're Ms. Abeyss?" I was in shock and slight panic. I wasn't expecting to be talking to my boss, never the less talking with her so casually.
She playfully mimicked my tone as she asked, "You're my new intern?"
"My.. My apologies Ms." I began to pick at my nails, trying to show the least amount of nervousness.
She sighed, "Goodness gracious, please don't start. Trust me, I would prefer if we could become friends."
"Okay? Are you friends with your whole team?"
"Yes, actually. I personally dislike that I have more access to things. I think that since me and my whole team work as a group to grow and become better as equals then we get a lot more done. And considering we have been at the top of the productivity charts, I'd say it's working pretty well!"
"That's awesome; I'm glad I'm on your team Ms. Abeyss."
"Please, call me Claire." We smiled at the cliche line.
  We kept the conversation going as the car ride stretched on, and eventually our limousine got out into the sandy wilderness of California. The dirt roads were now barely visible behind the darkened windows. Claire and I had moved closer so we could talk easier and just as she had let go of the seat, the limousine made an extremely sharp turn. Naturally this sent her flying into me. I caught her and helped her back up as soon as I realized what had happened. She was bright red when she looked back at me and gave a sheepish smile.
"I'm so sorry about that."
"It's alright, I've had plenty of people fall for me, I must be more handsome than I think."
She snorted at my terrible pun, "I have to have a loud word with our driver now, could you give me just a sec?"
I nodded my head in reply, before she turned toward the glass divider. Her eyebrows furrowed until she looked nearly murderous. She calmly slid back the divider, and cleared her throat.
"STEVEN WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?!?" She barked.
  Steven smiled back devilishly, "I had to take a left turn."
  "Fuck off Steven." She slammed the divider closed.
  "Swearing is allowed I presume?" I smirked.
  Smiling back at me she tightened her ponytail, "Yes, definitely. Oh and we're almost to the lab by the way."
  "We're quite the distance away from my house aren't we?"
  "Yeah. If you decide to work here there are optional dormitories for all employees."
  "Oh that's really cool, do they allow pets?"
  "Just trained ones."
  The limousine jolted to a stop in front of a town, but it wasn't quite. We were at the center of the area, surrounded by several two story tall fake buildings and giant storage containers. All of the structures were all various beige colors, some leaning towards green, others towards yellow. Everything seemed normal until you took a closer look; The Lab must be very security focused on top of the research aspect. Claire walked over to a well, and motioned for me to follow. I did so, unsure and hesitant.
  "Hey Claire?" I stayed back while she leaned over the well to an almost dangerous degree. "Why are we in the middle of nowhere?"
  She was as still as if she didn't hear me, even though the space had been silent since the limousine had driven off. I slowly inched forward. The pay was still tempting, although it was looking less and less appealing the longer Claire stayed frozen staring down the well. The silence stretched until I lost track of how much time had passed. Suddenly, Claire stepped back, pulling a gun out of a hidden pocket in her jacket. I froze. Something was coming from that well and it wasn't friendly. Three human heads came into view as a platform slowly rose up out of the well, revealing it to be a hidden elevator entrance. The need for security. The need for the gun. It was too much. I took a step back and I was at gunpoint. Claire glared at me, a clear sign as to not move. She then pointed the gun back to the two men and one woman that had risen from the depths below.
  "Long time no see, Claire." One of the men. His voice was oddly robotic, so I started paying more attention.
  "Long time no see, Chad." An equally robotic response from Claire.
The woman spoke next; "Have you picked the apple tree yet?" She stole a glance at me.
"Yes," Claire beckoned me closer, "I picked the apple flower."
I started forward slowly, still wary of the gun. They were all talking utter nonsense. We were all in the desert. There were no apple trees near here, nor did we pick anything before we arrived. I got within a foot of Claire.
The final male spoke, "Polly wants a cracker, care to feed her?"
"Polly wants a mango, not a cracker." Claire cracked a smile, "Open sesame mother fuckers."
Claire dragged me by my wrist onto the platform with her and the other three. She stomped her foot twice, paused, then once more and the platform lowered into the well. I looked up to the sun and gave it a silent goodbye. I didn't expect to be leaving the underground lab for a very long time.