Chapter 20: Date

*At the Facility* Dr. Aero and I walked through the corridors, passing some of the other experiments until we finally reached Room 367. Dr. Aero opened the door for me and I walked inside; him following suit. The room was large, filled with monitors, computers, and scientists all working at a fast pace. In the center of the room was a large sliver pod and inside that pod was this green liquid. One of the scientists that were working got up to greet me and Dr. Aero. "What brings you two here, sir?" He asked. "I wanted to see how our little "project" was going." I responded, "Dr. Aero is here because he'll be helping oversee the project." Dr. Aero nodded, "I'll make sure it all continues to go as planned." "Which brings me back to topic. How IS the project going, Dr. Drake?" Dr. Drake pushed up his glasses, "Well sir, we've finally gotten the subject out of the incubation process and have put it in the capsule. So far growth has been at a steady pace, right now the subject is in the preteen stage and we've detected no signs of any imperfections." "Good, good." I turned around and walked toward the pod to see for myself the growing process. "I see you've truly captured the likeness quite well." "Yes, well it wasn't easy, sir. We were unsure how capable we'd be since this was our first time with cloning. But if we have your approval, we'll keep up the work." I studied the being that was inside the pod, curled up like a fetus in the womb. "A truly marvelous sight," I looked at Dr. Aero, "Wouldn't you agree, Dr. Aero?" He walked next to me to look at the subject, "Indeed, Dr. Atlas. How far we've come in our research." "This is only a test, you know that? To see how far our technology and scientific minds have evolved." He nodded, "I know." I placed my left hand on the glass of the pod, "Once we retrieve 9320 we'll be able to start over, and transform him into the weapon that he was supposed to become," A wide grin grew on my face, "After that, we'll use our cloning to create an army of savage beasts….OF THE ULTIMATE WEAPON!" I shouted on that last part which caused some of the others in the room to jump in their seats and look at me like a mad scientist. I cleared my throat and brought back my composure, "But for now, we'll continue his stimulation and evolution. I think it's time to execute the final test." Dr. Aero looked at me with shock in his eyes, "You truly think it's time to initiate that? This subject isn't even finished yet, we shouldn't risk any rushing and creating complications." "Hmm, you're right," I turned around to Dr. Drake who had been standing there listening to our conversation. "How long until this is finished and perfected?" "Oh um, *ahem* well at the rate we're going, it should take another four months before the subject reaches adulthood." I contemplated for a second, then I formed an idea, "Very well. In four months' time, this subject will be complete, so until then, we'll have the trainers work on the experiments to prepare them for the final test. Dr. Aero, hire some professional hackers." He looked at me confused, "For what, Dr. Atlas?" I began walking toward the exit, "We're going to show the world the fruits of our labor." I opened the door and left the room.

*Back in Central City* It was around middle evening, about seven-thirty I was sitting at the table eating a bowl of soup and reading when Ms. Clare came over wearing a dress. "Wow Ms. Clare, you look pretty and smell good." She smiled, "Thank you Ferral, I haven't looked this good since my brother's wedding." She told me as she put on….uh…earrings, that's it. "Where are you going all dressed up? A party?" "No, I actually have a date." "A date? You mean what humans do to get a mate?" She looked at a small mirror in her hand while she touched (fixed) her hair, "Well, if everything goes as I hope I will have a mate." I put a bookmark in and put my book down, "So where did you meet him?" "That's just it," She put down the small mirror, "I haven't. I'm going on a blind date. We're meeting at Le Palais D'or." It took me a second to remember where I've heard that word "blind date" from, "You can't go on a blind date, Ms. Clare. Blind dates are for creeps and sad people." She raised one of her eyebrows, "I like to consider myself only one of those things. And where did you hear that from?" "It was on the TV. The entertainment network." She tilted her head in confusion, "I'm starting to think I need to regulate what you watch, mister." She reached into her purse to grab a small gold tube and slightly twisted the middle, making a red stick pop out. "What's that?" I asked. She was taking the red stick and rubbing it all over her lips, causing them to turn red. I have never seen her do that. Amazing! "It's called lipstick. Women usually put it on to make themselves look more pretty." She told me as she twisted the middle of the tube again, this time making the red stick go back down. "Oh Ms. Clare, you don't need that lipstick thing to look pretty. You already were." "Awww. Thank you, Ferral." She walked over and pressed her lips on my right cheek; a kiss I think this is called. "You're sweet, now I'm off. I should be back by around ten." She grabbed her purse and walked off. "Have fun!" I waved her goodbye. She turned and waved back, then closed the door leaving me home alone. Gosh, I don't like being alone.

I lay on the couch continuing to read my book. It was volume three of the Animal Encyclopedia. Though I didn't really understand a lot of the words, I got what each description was saying for the most part. I enjoyed reading these books because of how much I enjoy animals. Once I had finished halfway through the volume, I placed my books back in and put the book down to save the rest for tomorrow. After that, I got off the couch, pick up the middle cushion, and took out a jacket along with the bottle of perfume Ms. Clare had given me. I sprayed the perfume on the jacket and put it on, then sat back on the couch. I closed my eyes and took deep inhales and exhales, getting a smell of the perfume. I often did this when Ms. Clare wasn't around; it made me feel like I wasn't alone. Like Mother was still here with me. The jacket was the one Mother wore the day we left the Facility. I had picked it up when I ran off from the paramedic people. It's been around a month and a half since I left that place, and I'm NOT going back. I am going to be free and share that freedom with all the other experiments….but how? Something I've been thinking about since I left is how am I going to free everyone in the facility. I don't even know WHERE the facility is. It's not going to be easy, but it's my goal and I'm gonna not rest until I achieve it! As I was in my "thinking time," I heard a buzz coming from the kitchen. I looked at the kitchen to see what had made the noise but saw nothing. Then I heard it again. This time, I got and walked over to see what it was. When I got there, I saw Ms. Clare's phone on the counter. I picked it up, "This must be the cause of the buzzing. Wait…doesn't Ms. Clare need this? Oh no! What happens if someone calls about something important?" I've got to bring it to her! So I put on my going-out clothes, put the jacket and perfume back underneath the couch, and slid down the ladder out the window. Then I remember I have no idea where she went.

Oops.

Well that's not good. I can't ask someone if I don't even know where it is she went off to. It was some kind of fancy restaurant with the word "Le" in it. I guess the plan is to walk around the city till I find a place with that word. There's no point in trying to find it using Ms. Clare's scent, she's already been gone long enough to where it wouldn't be in the air anymore. So I walked around the city, looking at every building until I found the one with "Le" in it. This is my first time wandering the city at night; all the lights were on, there didn't seem to be a lot of people, and the weather was nice. After wandering around for what felt like forever, I decided to ask someone. I walked up to a man who was sitting at a table outside a cafe drinking coffee. "Excuse me," I called out as I walked toward him, "I need to ask you something." The man put down his drink when he saw me coming, "Sure kid, what can I help you with?" He asked. "I need help finding a fancy restaurant. It's got "Le" in the name. Do you know where that's at?" He moved his eyes around while he was thinking, "Fancy restaurant….Oh, you mean Le Palais D'or?" I nodded, "Yes! Do you know where it's at?" "Sure, it's roughly three blocks down, make a left. You can't miss it, it's got a big flashing sign." I looked in the direction he was pointing to and understood where to go. "Thank you!" He nodded and I ran off in the direction he pointed to. Three blocks down and make a left. Once I got to the area where the man said to go, I looked around till I spotted a building with a large bright sign that read "Le Palais D'or" on it. That was the place! I walked over to the building and when I entered I was greeted by a man in a fancy outfit. "Evening monsieur, how may I help you?" He asked. "I'm just here to give this to someone." I took out Ms. Clare's phone and handed it to the man. "I see. And what is the person's name?" "Clare." He looked at me for a second, then opened a book and started looking through it. "I have a Clare Mona. Is that the one you're looking for?" "Mona? What name is that?" "That is Ms. Clare's last name, monsieur." A last name? I didn't know people had….Ohhhhhhhh, so that's why Mr. Crikey's actual name is Steve Irwin. Huh, I just thought he had two first names. "Yeah, that's her. Can you tell her that Ferral sent it?" "Oui monsieur." I looked at him confused, "That means yes." "Oh. Okay, thank you, fancy restaurant man." I walked off, I trust that the fancy restaurant man will give Ms. Clare her phone.

I sat at my table, waiting for my date to arrive. I had been waiting for the past hour and I'm starting to think the worst. I was fiddling with a fork when the man at the counter came over. "Madam, you seem to have forgotten this." He said, handing me my cell phone. "Oh uh, thanks. How did you get this?" "A friend of yours stopped by to deliver it. Pharrell was his name I believe." I was confused about who he was talking about. I don't know a Pharrell….Wait, does he mean Ferral? "This person didn't happen to be in his late teens, would he?" Oui, madam." I smiled and scoffed, I can't believe he walked a half hour just to give me my phone. "Thank you." The man nodded and walked off. I was still baffled at the fact that Ferral walk through the city AT NIGHT just to give me something. And I can imagine he wandered aimlessly for a while too. Wow, I'll never understand his thought process. I turned it on to see I had two messages from the dating app I used to set up this date. I looked through the messages and saw that the guy I was supposed to meet said he couldn't come. Not because he had something else to do, no….but because he just didn't want to. I turned off my phone, placed it on the table, and buried my face in my hands taking a long sign. Of course. Of. Fucking. Course.

Once I finally got back to the apartment, I saw that it was nine forty-five. Ms.Clare should be back in fifteen minutes, so I put on my sleeping clothes, brushed my teeth, and decided to go to sleep. I'm sure Ms. Clare will be tired from being on her date and being up so late. I'll ask her about it tomorrow morning and I'm sure she'll have a lot to talk about and how much fun she had.