0 0 1 ━ [ 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯 ]

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟷: 𝙰 𝙼𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜

"Now, One, today is a special day," Dr. Brenner began, sitting next to One on her bed. She looked up at him with faded eyes. Was it possible that irises could lose color? Because her eyes had been starting to look more gray than blue lately..."Today we're going to send someone through."

"Through?" One asked weakly.

"Yes, my dear," Dr. Brenner smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come along."

Dr. Brenner rose and held a hand out to her. With downcast eyes she slowly placed her tiny hand in his and slid off the bed, her bare feet slapping against the cold linoleum floor. She used to flinch when that happened but not anymore. She'd gotten used to it.

Together they winded through the many corridors of the labyrinth that was the lab until they reached a large open space with a suspended walkway and enclosed glass room. People moved about behind the glass, pressing blinking buttons and turning strange dials.

Dr. Brenner continued to hold her hand as he led her down a set of stairs to the main floor. One could feel a sea of eyes staring silently down at her. She tried not to look around too much at the crowd they were passing through but her curiosity altered her gaze every now and then. People in white coats like Papa, military uniforms, and neatly pressed suits surrounded them. She felt smaller than she usually did.

At last they stopped when they reached a raised stage. Dr. Brenner instructed her to sit on a chair in the center as he stood in front of her to address the audience. From up here she had a better view and could study the crowd more closely. The audience before her all sat in the same positions with the same looks upon their faces. They seemed more robot than human. Among them, she noticed the one-armed Mr. Munson.

"I would like to thank you all for coming today," Dr. Brenner began. "We have discovered something incredible here, something that could change the world as we know it. This child," Dr. Brenner paused to refer to One. "has abilities that will help our great nation to ensure that we stay at the forefront of power."