Stolen Powers: Rise of the NGZ

Chapter Ten: Hold That Head Up

Michelle never wanted to be the leader.

That's right, she didn't. Dr. Lin forced it onto her before she could even agree or disagree to take it. Nonetheless, she didn't argue. She'd get punished if she did.

She basically grew up with Lin, even before she met the first two teens. Before they died due to cancer.

Evan and Cassandra. The boy-girl duo that was supposed to be the strongest successful experiment with the DXC. Cassie made it through up until she was around five years old. She painfully died then.

Four-year-old Michelle even remembered it so clearly. Her pretty face, her gentle touch, her kind voice.

"Michelle..." she said, shaking hands reaching up to her face.

"Yes, Cassie...?"

"Don't be sad. I'll always be with you." Cassandra's hand cupped Michelle's cheek and brushed away her tears.

But she couldn't stop crying. Her only friend was about to die in front of her. All because of some stupid experiment. This made no sense to the young girl, but she knew that it was bad.

Then the monitor flatlined as Cassandra's hand fell limp. She watched silently as they covered her up, but a hard hand gripped her shoulder.

"It's time to go, Michelle," a younger Dr. Lin said sternly. "You've already seen too much."

Reluctantly following his commands, Michelle shakily got up onto her feet, stumbling on the way up. With her hand still on her shoulder, he led her out of the room.

"What's gonna happen to her?" Michelle asked quietly.

Lin glanced down at her, and to her, he surprisingly smirked. "We move on, that's all."

Questions raced through her mind at this, but she remained reserved. Where were her parents? Did they know she was dead? Michelle wanted answers.

But one year later, she was so desperate to find out that she overheard something she probably shouldn't have.

"Evan? What about him?" Lin's voice said.

In response, one of the scientists said something that Michelle couldn't make out behind the thick metal wall. Still, she strained to hear it, but no success.

"I see. Well, we can't let him..." Lin's voice trailed off as if he was walking away. Later, Michelle's ears picked up another sound from a different person.

"What? That's insane! Increasing his electricity will only kill him faster!"

"I don't care," Lin spat back. "I just want to see what happens..."

Michelle gasped, suddenly realizing what was going on. Unfortunately, that was as much as she'd get to hear before she got caught.

Lin punished her severely for her disobedient actions. You wouldn't want to know the details of what happened.

And today, she has yet to meet or hear Evan's name. The now seventeen-year-old girl doesn't even know if he's even alive.

And that's the bitter truth.

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"Richardson, where's my damn lunch?" Lin mocked. "You're four minutes late. If I don't get it in the next five minutes, you'll be my scientists' newest pet."

Trying her best to squeeze that last part out, she rushed to the kitchen and got the doctor's desired lunch.

"About damn time. Now leave me alone. Go make yourself useful somewhere else."