Battle for Earth

Secrets

Cato opened his eyes to Alex shaking his shoulders.

"Dude, get up."  He said.  "You slept in."

Cato pulled the sheets over his head and groaned.  Alex yanked them down and barked out a laugh as Cato stumbled down the ladder.  "Last week was crazy, so I'm not sure what to expect today.  Black'll probably come again though."  He paused dramatically, gazing up at the ceiling as if he were reminiscing on better days.  "Seems like we may have tests everyday now."

"I've noticed."  Cato grumbled, massaging his arm.  Black always put the needle in the same spot, and it was starting to hurt.  He stumbled over towed the small table that sat in the corner of the room.  Picking up a piece of toast, he quickly spread some jam on it and shoved the whole thing in his mouth.

"You'd better get ready."  Said Alex.  He tossed a screw driver into the air and caught the handle effortlessly.  "Black will be here soon."  Cato slipped into his clothes and brushed his teeth.  He pulled on his socks and shoes and plopped into the closest chair to wait. 

"What do you think these tests are for?"  Alex asked carefully.  "I mean, there's got to be a reason for them."  He added thoughtfully.

"I don't know."  Cato responded.  He wondered if he should tell Alex about the adventure he'd had a few nights before.  He remembered the room, filled to the brim with toys and trinkets.  Alex would love it, and they always told each other everything.  Still, he wanted it to be his secret.

"I've been thinking, recently, about what earth was like."  Cato said.  "I don't remember much about it.  What was your family like?"  Cato had never tried talking to Alex about what earth was like for him.  They were both young when they'd been sent off in the Reacher.

"Well my momma had blue eyes and dark hair.  I don't remember much about her, but she used to tell me that I looked exactly like my father."  Alex said.  It was silent for a moment while both boys relived the moment their parents sent them away.

"Did you ever meet your father?" Cato asked.

"No, he had to move to the east coast just after I was born. I don't remember exactly where. My mother did her best to keep in touch with him though." Said Alex.

A single knock on the door indicated that Black had come. The door opened and the boys walked out. They made their way down the hallway, following Black. She stopped and opened the door to room P13. The boys made their way to the chairs and strapped themselves down, steeling their nerves for the injection they knew was coming. Black picked up a syringe from the table and filled it with the same green liquid she'd given the boys previously.

Cato watched as the needle sunk into his skin. The Morath made him slightly light headed, but he usually felt fine after a few minutes. He watched Alex flinch when the needle pierced his arm. Alex hated needles, and Cato felt bad that he had to do this every day. It wasn't like they had a choice though.

When both boys had been injected, they started to stand up to leave. Black put her hand out, signalling them to stop. Puzzled, they sat back down. Cato and Alex shared a confused look before Cato turned to watch Black. She filled a vial with a strange shimmery liquid. Setting it in a stand, she added a drop of a clear liquid to the vial and placed a cork on top. Carefully, she turned the glass upside down and shook it up before pouring it into two new syringes.

Cato stared at his arm as Black injected the strange concoction into him. A moment after that he felt tired and woozy. He looked over at Alex and saw his friend's usually olive skinned face turn pale and green. He vaguely saw Black leave the room, so he unbuckled the straps holding him down and moved toward the door. He waited at the door for Alex and looked around the room. He stared at the black straps dangling off the edge of his chair and wondered why they used them at all. He'd never tried to leave during a test and neither had Alex. Besides, what was the point of them if he could simply unbuckle them and leave?

Cato and Alex made their way down the hall, stumbling a bit, until they reached their door. Alex opened the door and sank down into the closest chair, massaging his temples and groaning. Cato pulled off his shoes and climbed the ladder to his bed.  He lay sprawled out on top of the sheets and lost himself in the soft hum of the giant ship he called home.