12th Formulation [Audio]

[intimacyphobic]

[Lucrecia sounds a lot lighter than she feels.]

So I haven't seen any pitchforks or torches at my door. Just a... shadow. Haha.

Anyway, I was thinking that...

Well, this world is just--no, existence... existence is a funny thing. I...

[She's silent for a long time.]

Guess I didn't have anything to say after all. I'm, I'm sorry to bother you

Comments

[intimacyphobic]

[It wouldn't be the first time Lucrecia has brought violence on herself, despite her lack of fighting experience. She exemplified being TOO clever, too calculating, despite the absent-minded professor routine she often exhibited.

The claws pierce into her whever Anna's hands have landed, punching nothing vital but hurting like hell. Before long, adrenaline and pseudoendorphins are rushing in to numb the pain, twisting it into something bittersweet as Lucy's sane exterior cracks into a deep-seated masochism and psychotic counterphobia. Normally, there would tears, wracking sobs, and profuse apologies peppering broken sentences as she attempted to describe such acts. But the agony of this was too good to pass up. She winced, smiling brokenly as her eyes glazed then sharpened, her voice hoarse and whispering.]

I asked him to come with me, for drinks. You know, little innocent companionship. I asked him for help... and he helped. Oh, did he help.

Do you have any idea....? No, no, no. No. I needed... a subject. I have work, you see, like I'm doing for you, but for Kevas. Kevas needs help... an enhancement. To keep him regenerating...

I have a therapy. I have the genes sequenced, altered. But I needed a final test, a dry run. Marco, I thought, was an excellent choice, so young and healthy--strong. It could have been... could have been a gift: the ability to regenerate...

But he neglected, neglected to mention the extensive tissue damage he had within--he might have, if I'd told him what I was up to, I suppose, but that's neither here nor there now, not to mention he might have refused, and I needed... I needed a subject, remember? Remember?

So I... So...

It was a simple hydroxide based compound, to sedate him. Easy easy. And not the problem. Not the problem. But then... but then the injection of nanoreceivers, the gene implantation...

No, that wasn't the problem, either. Not the length of the telomeres, not the genomic markers. The problem was... Maybe it was, maybe it was... ah, I would need my notes, but...

It worked too quickly. Too quickly. I can only imagine how the newly released vectors arising from his immune system attacked his scar tissue--multiple system failure, all those damaged organs--what happened to him? Why? Is it the drinking? Tsk. Too much alcohol, the things it does...

[A tiny germ of humanity is breaking and screaming inside her, but she refuses to heed it. Oh, gods, where is the sweetness of death? Why hasn't it leapt from Anna's eyes and eaten her yet???]

He told me... [She smiled.] I confessed my sins, and he told me to stay away from you.

[dormant_beast]

[Anna listens very closely and carefully as Lucrecia speaks, breath coming in quicker gasps as the explanation goes further.]

You-

[Anna is struggling to maintain control of herself. This is the first test of her inner strength since the incident where she had killed several people and mauled a few more. It's hard.

Extremely hard.

The change wants to happen, that much she can feel, and even see. Her nails are talons, and she can even feel her teeth beginning to sharpen, and her eyes have taken on a distinctly feline and wild quality.

But, no. She wont let it happen. She's going to keep her mind. That does not mean she's not going to let Lucrecia off.]

You used him like a lab rat!

[Her voice starts low, then raises in pitch until it's a shriek. She physically lifts the woman off her feet, then literally body slams her onto the cold floor, claws flexing over the womans heart.

It'd be so easy. As easy as it had been for the others. It'd be painful for Lucrecia, too - tear her limb from limb, tear her claws down flesh...

so easy...

No.]

NO!

[SHE IS NOT GOING TO LOSE CONTROL. A few deep breaths, and the situation is hers again. She pins the woman down, eyes blazing.]

[intimacyphobic]

[Lucrecia's eyes water, breath knocked from her chest. She lies still, panting, unmoving, but her eyes taunt Anna until she finds her voice, a low hiss, like air escaping.]

Go ahead...

It's flattering you think I'm worth the brig.

[dormant_beast]

[Anna shakes her head. She feels almost betrayed by Lucrecia - this woman was supposed to help her, and look what she'd done to Marco.]

Non. You are not, Lucrecia.

[She leans in, putting her full weight on the woman.]

But - if I find out that you ever touch him, or anyone else like this again, I will kill you, brig or not - and it will not be quick, painless.

We are not your lab rats, your games. [Anna's seen this back home - that's why they hunted down people like her, so they could run experiments and eventually kill them.]

Do you understand me?

[intimacyphobic]

[Lucrecia stares back at her, sucking in enough breath for words.]

I don't play games. I am not... Hojo.

But, fine, I'll halt my work. Satisfied?

[dormant_beast]

[She watches the woman carefully and quietly for several seconds, then nods.]

Yes, for now.

[And Lucrecia is released as quickly as she was pinned, and Anna even drags her to her feet.]

[intimacyphobic]

[Lucrecia struggles up, pushing back away from Anna as soon as she's on her feet. She's shaky, shattered, body screaming in pain, but she refuses to steady herself on the woman in any fashion, instead, stumbling back to lean against the counter with a rattling cough: possibly broken ribs? Great.]

So glad we had this talk, then.

[dormant_beast]

As am I.

[She goes to leave.]

You should see a medic.

[Not that Anna cares, because what she'd done to Marco was so much worse. But Anna at least does have a shred of humanity despite all that rage she's currently trying to control.]

[intimacyphobic]

[Lucrecia coughs, warily heading out behind her, before pausing to lean on yet another counter. She wipes a bloody lip on her sleeve.]

Don't worry. I won't compromise your position by dying.

[dormant_beast]

I appreciate it.

[And with that, she leaves Lucrecia there to fend for herself. She needs to tend to this knife wound.]