Tony Stark's daughter

Chapter 21: Unexpected Ally

Word count: 1903 words

Brooks' POV:

"You're not as focused as you once were." Thompson spoke, 10 paces away from me. I could hear him but I didn't react to his words. I just sat there, emotionally numb but with no idea to why I'm feeling this way. I felt excruciating pain before hand but now there's nothing.

Moving to a sitting position, I eyed him carefully. My eyes not leaving him as one of the scientists came over to me to remove the mouth guard from my mouth. The hum of the Memory Suppressing Machine fading in the background.

Growing bored of my stare he grunted. "I have a task for you." He began. Some of the scientists that were close to him seem to know what he was going to say and gave concerned glances to each other. "Go and collect volunteer 214 from they're cell."

"But sir." The head scientist cried as he approached Thompson. "The serum isn't ready yet, the side effects could be fatal. I highly-"

"I don't pay you for your opinion Doctor." Thompson hissed. "Solider, you will comply. Go and collect the volunteer." He demanded again turning his attention back to me. The head scientist backed away from Thompson in fear before looking to me, hoping I wouldn't obey. But unfortunately I did. With a nod of my head, I pushed myself up from the cold chair and silently walked out of the room.

Walking to the cells, I notice that they've clearly learnt from when I was here last as they've now got guards posted at every door to every cell. Approaching the cell I need, I stare at the guards wanting them to open the door. They glance at each other before obeying.

Upon hearing the lock of the door click, the volunteer, who was sat cross legged on the floor facing away from the door, whipped his head round and held a confused look on his face.

"Get up." I order to the volunteer. He nods as I tell the guards to grab him. Nodding, they step in and loop their arms under the volunteer's. It surprised me that he didn't resist. Nonetheless I took the lead as we walked back to where Thompson was.

Entering the room, I stood beside the head scientist as the two guards dragged the volunteer over to where a chair with restraints had been placed.
"Doctor, the serum." Thompson ordered as the volunteer was strapped in.

The scientist was hesitant for a moment but reluctantly nodded. Leaving my side and walking over to his colleagues, they picked up a small case for him which they opened before turning it around for the doctor to see. Inside was the injection gun and slots for four vials of the serum, the serum being light orange in colour, two of them being empty from previous experiments with the serum.

With shaky hands the scientist carefully picked the injection gun up out of the case before taking one of the vials as well. Inserting the vial into the back of the gun he took a deep breath before walking over to Thompson.

"Sir, I really don't think-"

"Enough!" Thompson hissed. "Inject him or it'll be you in his place." Thompson stared him down with a cold glare. The scientist gulped before looking over his shoulder to me as if I could do something but I couldn't even if I wanted to. He gave me a pained expression before turning back to the volunteer with a sigh.

"I'm sorry." He muttered to the volunteer. The volunteer didn't react but nodded. Raising the gun he pressed the metal to the volunteer's neck. Taking a moment to mentally prepare himself the scientist gave once last sorrowful look to the volunteer before pulling on the trigger, releasing the serum into his blood stream.

Pulling the gun away, the scientist as well as Thompson were quick to back away from the volunteer as the serum found it's way through his veins. I, personally, never witnessed the last two experiments but I heard what happened from the guards who were present. And it wasn't pretty.