Chapter Text
In a secluded government facility there resided a monster. An abomination of nature, created in a laboratory from the offspring of man and something more sinister. Whether it was in an attempt to further our evolution or a result of stretching the bounds of possibility, funding was granted in the name of science and a creature was created 26 years ago that possessed abilities that surpass anything our world had ever seen before.
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Marinette’s recent assignment was exhilarating albeit terrifying. It was what anyone with her degree could hope for mixed with a little bit of science fiction. From
what she could gather, it was the type of project only the heavy hitters of her department could dream of being assigned to. Her assignment, which up until a week ago to her knowledge was only a rumor whispered about on campus. A monster created and housed on site. Studied and documented. Although she had been a promising student in her field, up until this assignment she had been confined to a desk, but now she was going to get her hands dirty.
After signing a stack of confidentiality paperwork swearing allegiance to her work above all else, she was briefed on the consequences of neglecting her sworn secrecy and handed additional access badges.
A facility tour of the new areas her access badge granted her was given. Down a long hallway, she passed room after room of filing cabinets. Where her predecessors assignment research could be found filed away.
Scanning a different badge, they entered a new corridor. Cameras were in the corners of every room blatantly on display. Through the windows in the doors, she could see people in lab coats surrounded by microscopes, computers, and other science equipment. A few rooms housed caged animals.
Her third new badge was scanned at a windowless solid door concealing what was inside. In addition to the access badge, a code was input into a keypad. They stepped back and the doors mechanically opened. Revealing a small foyer with 4 doors. The first 2 doors were explained to house additional experiments that didn’t pertain to her and she did not have access to. The 3rd room opened with an additional code, it housed a viewing room with a table and chairs and a one way mirror that showed what was housed in a room between the 3rd and 4th room.
Through the window she could see a room that wasn’t overly large nor crowded although it did house a fully stocked bookshelf, a tidy bed w a pillow and white linen, a table with a chair, and a sink and a toilet. It was fairly reminiscent of a very clean windowless prison cell. Most of the lights flickered in an inconsistent strobe pattern casting shadows along the room. It appeared to be vacant of any life. At the farthest visible area was a room that sandwiched and isolated the center room. It mirrored the one she stood in with the exception that the glass was transparent and not a one way mirror. The 4th door entered this viewing room leaving the middle room void of a direct access. There was a drawer in the wall that resembled that of a bank box that denied either side direct contact, but small items could be transferred.
And with that the tour was complete. She was directed through the mechanical security door, back down one level of restriction. Directly outside of the area was a room reserved with her name on the exterior. A desk, computer, and office phone were inside. Given the secrecy of the assignment, her guide knew no more than Marinette did concerning her project, thus wasn’t able to answer any questions. She was directed back to the records room, shown her assignments specific area of research and suggested to check out this material and return to her office.
Once in her new office, past research materials in her possession she couldn’t wait to dive in. There was obviously classified information judging by the amount of confidentiality agreements she had signed. What kind of being could they possibly have in their possession and where was this “monster” being held? If the holding room was anything to go off of, it had basic needs and an understanding of books though how much she was curious. She had heard the rumors. It was not human. Capable of mass destruction and the highest security measures were necessary. One rumor went as far to state that all physical contact was restricted after it escaped one night and bled dry all other test animals on site. The dangers were limitless. If it fell into the wrong hands could be used as a weapon thus the need for seclusion and secrecy. She had also heard others deny the possibility of the situation leading her to believe most people were unaware of its existence entirely.
The first catalog began with a detailed explanation of the genes manipulated all carefully categorized by date. Marinette skipped ahead, albeit the information she was reading was fascinating, she would double back for more details once her curiosity was satisfied. She closed that volume after skimming the pages and being no closer to what she was looking for. Having skimmed through two more books yielding nothing, she reached for a plastic bag containing a jump drive that was in the box amongst some other volumes of data.
Upon waking her computer and inserting the drive, she seemed to finally have found something useful. The computer file held digitized photos and videos dating back from the conception of the project. The first she saw were stills of microscopic samples. She scrolled down and saw thumbnails of photos of a toddler with a mop of blonde hair and a wide smile. Nothing was out of the ordinary about him. The only thing that made her question if the photos weren't mistakenly placed here were that the photos seemed to be taken at the government facility and the child was in what appeared to be a hospital gown. When photographed accompanied with anyone, they were in a lab coat and seemed to be behaving professionally. This couldn’t possibly have been right. He was just a little boy. This could not have been her “monster.”
Thumbnails blurred as she continued to scroll. She stopped once she was satisfied she had spanned enough time. Same little boy now around 5 years old with what appeared to be the same cheery disposition smiling for the camera while appearing to be measured with a tape. A few photos down he was in what appeared to be hospital issued pants that resembled pajamas. His shirt was off but on the right side of his stomach was a large black spot. Several images cataloged the measurements.
She scrolled further. About 5 more years had passed. The thumbnail of a video showed him while the camera was in motion. She pressed play. He was being measure, smile not as bright but shyly smirking none the less. Not making eye contact with the camera this time. Someone with a stern voice off camera called him Adrien and directed him to stop wasting their time. He took his shirt off to reveal his entire chest was covered in a black as coal pigmentation although it was otherwise flush on his skin. A woman in a lab coat proceeded to measure it while calling out her findings. Then the video ended. Next she played a video of the boy at a table with the woman seated across from him. She had what appeared to be illustrations of random objects on cards facing him. She asked him to name all of the objects shown which he did with pride. Pointing to one of the cards, she questioned how he knew of that object never having been told or exposed to its existence. He grinned to himself and refused to answer or look up.
Marinette was appalled. This was not what she signed up for. She scrolled further. The photo was shot obviously through the glass. The boy, a teenager, his smile now absent stared into nothing. He stood in issued pants with the facilities name printed on his left hip, his arms spread showing that the black pigmentation covered the entirety of his skin only sparing his neck and face. A sequence of photos followed showing him in the same stance but from other angles as if he spun in a circle.
She played a video from the same area in the timeline. The vantage appeared to be the same from behind the glass. It showed an empty room. And a stern voice addressed Adrien by name and demanded he showed himself. A voice of what seemed to be the boy replied that he would stipulating if the camera was turned off. A shadow shifted in a corner of the room. The next video played. He was seated alone, isolated in his room while someone asked him a sequence of questioned in which he didn’t react at all. Then he vanished. In a puff of smoke he dissolved and the video ended.
Marinette stared at the computer monitor for long after the video had ended. She didn’t see a monster. She saw an innocent child being treated far worse than what was mandated for animals. She scrolled to the end of the folder and played the last video. The file name indicated that it was dated from the previous month. It was of the room in the state she had observed. Nothing seemed to be happening. If it weren’t for the lights strobing while the videos timeline moved she would have thought it a still photograph of the room. About 30 seconds in, a shadow moved from the left to the right of the frame then back again as if something was pacing. She stopped the film and rewound it. After playing it several times she was sure she had seen a shadow and it wasn’t just a trick of the lights flickering.
She stood. Facing her desk, head down, looking at nothing in particular. She walked out of her office, closing the door behind herself. She stood frozen. Not knowing where she was going or what she was intending to do. After taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she came to the conclusion that she needed to see that room. See it for herself. Turning to her left she entered the necessary information to enter the maximum restricted area, the mechanical door swung open. Next she entered the viewing room. She found herself seated... concealed...looking through the one way glass. She sat looking for anything to verify what she was being led to believe was housed in that room.
Marinette only had to wait a moment before she heard a man clear his throat followed by
“ and to what do I owe this pleasure?”