The Lost

Limited Access

They reappeared back at the facility. The Curator was there to see them arrive. "Oh dear." He said and hit the alarm for medical. "Stay calm."

Annabeth looked at the Curator. "I am calm." Then she felt Marina fall to the floor and she looked down at her. She had been hit. A bullet in her hip and two to her left shoulder.

She was crying, in pain, but the pain made her mute. She went to kneel beside Marina, to help her to stand, but her body wouldn't obey her commands. She fought against it, but got the message. 'Forced shutdown in 5 seconds.'

There was nothing she could do. She fought it to the last, but she couldn't override this programming. Her vision blurred and then went black, and she was frozen exactly how she had been standing.

She woke up the next morning lying on an examination table, staring at the ceiling. She was strapped down and cables had been connected to her brain. Her mission was replaying on the screen. They were going over data output and other readings.

She opened her mouth. "How long have i been out?" She asked the open air.

It was a mechanical response from the PA system. "One day and 6 hours, Ms. Annabeth."

She sighed somewhat in relief. She was alone for the time being at least. "Georgina, could you please fetch-"

The door opened and The Curator walked in. "Me?" He asked, finishing her request. "Welcome back, Annabeth. I do apologize for how you were greeted. We just finished reviewing your mission. We had to deactivate you while we gave Marina treatment. Three bullets, but i'm sure you knew that already. No vital organs were hit but walking will be difficult for awhile for her."

"I see. Did I pass your test?"

"Right to the point I see. I have been authorized to offer you somewhat of a deal. You have earned a reward, of that I am certain. Within reason I am able to give you something you ask for."

"My freedom."

"Except for that." He heard her sigh in frustration. He couldn't blame her. He'd be pissed off too if they did to him what they did to her.

"Then can i have my boots back?" She asked, exasperated.

He nodded. "That i can do." He said with a smile. He opened a locker and her boots were there. They looked like they had been cleaned. "We had to replace the materials, but they are still the same size and fit. Also, you'll be able to walk on any metal surface, no matter how slick, thanks to magnetic grips." He put the boots on the table.

"Is there anything else?

"Access to my spatial storage."

"I can give you partial access, to retrieve things that are not vehicles, weapons or devices."

She quickly thought of what that would leave her access to. "So food, and clothing i can access. And books. If i have any. Is that right?"

The Curator nodded. "For the time being, yes." He walked closer to Annabeth.

"After the Elders reviewed your mission, they determined there was nothing you could have done differently to prevent Marina's injuries. They were caused by ricochets from the wall behind where you had been waiting."

She tried to nod, but her head was strapped down. "Can I... can I get up, please?"

The Curator nodded. "Yes. That is actually why I was coming in here. We were going to move you back to your room." She heard the sounds of Velcro, and her hands were free. She reached up and removed the strap over her chest and then her head while the Curator removed the ones around her waist, legs and ankles.

She sat up and removed the vital sign sensors, and finally the Curator had to assist with removing the connection cables from her brain.

She tried to access her storage for the lunch she made. 'Access denied.' Flashed behind her eyes. "When can I Access my storage?"

The Curator tapped a few things on his data pad, and she tried opening her storage again. 'Limited Access' flashed behind her eyes. And then a new prompt. 'Continue?' She hit yes and a small storage window opened. She brought out the still hot spaghetti. She had made enough for the Curator as well.

She handed him one of the to go boxes and he accepted it, opening it. "Is this for me? You humans call this.... spaghetti, correct?"

She nodded. "Yes. This is spaghetti. Do you have time to sit and share this meal with me?" She asked. She had grown somewhat fond of The Curator in the month she had been locked up in this place with no chance of leaving.

The Curator looked at his watch. "Unfortunately, no I do not. I will have to take this and eat it later. I've got a lot of work to do and a short time to do it. The elders are rather insistent." He said as he set it down.

She nodded more to herself than The Curator.

She opened her container and grabbed the plastic fork. Mixing the sauce and noodles before she began to eat the spaghetti she had made.

The Curator placed his hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "For what it is worth, I think you did an amazing job."

That made her smile. "Thanks. I... I didn't want to kill those people. The ones I did kill."

The Curator sighed. "Unfortunate as it was, it helped you carry out your mission, and for that, I cannot say you did wrong. I am sorry you had to make that choice." he turned then and walked from the room, presumably to go do paperwork or something else.

She hung her head. Ever since she had been here... no one, not a single person would eat with her. She felt so isolated.