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“Why do you stare at me? Asked Marinette, confused by her progenitor's look of worry.” Marinette didn’t know how to respond to what was in front of her.
She was almost staring into a mirror, yet this mirror was no flat 2D object. No, the reflection before her was fully 3D and this scared Marinette.
How did she get herself into this situation? Was the thought on Marinette’s mind… Kagami.
The girl had one day come bursting into Marinette’s room, with a look of abstract terror, something rarely seen on the ice queen’s face.
“Marinette. This may be confusing to ask you but have you ever been to one of my Mother’s hospitals before?” Kagami’s question was straight and to the point, as she waited for Marinette to respond.
“The only time I went to a hospital was when I was very young… I don’t know what for? Maybe my Mom knows.” Marinette saw the glint of worry run across Kagami’s eyes as the girl was clearly trying to hold a calm face at Marinette’s answer.
“Yes, Let’s go see if your mother knows!” Kagami quickly takes Marinette’s hand and drags her out of the room with a surprising amount of strength. Marinette is slightly in awe of Kagami’s actions as she flung in front of her mother.
“Hello Mrs. Dupain-Cheng.” Kagami's greeting sounded awkward, as if she wasn’t used to greeting people in that sort of way. “Me and Marinette are doing a project for school… It’s about childhood visits to the hospital… Did Marinette ever go to one as a child.” Kagami’s made-up story would not fool anyone in their right mind, but Marinette’s mother was too busy smiling at the sight of her daughter's grinning, as she stared at the hand that was held by Kagami.
“Well dear, if I remember correctly we did take Marinette to the hospital when she was younger… Can’t remember why? But I know they took a blood sample and even a DNA sample? They said it was for the betterment of all. But we never heard from them afterwards.” Marinette watched Kagami’s face go colder than it’s ever gone before, she was paler than a ghost.
“Thank you Mrs. Dupain-Cheng. Me and Marinette have somewhere to be. Goodbye.” Kagami said these words at a speed that was almost too fast for the human ears, as she once again took Marinette by the arm and dragged her away. Marinette was only able to give her mother a small wave before vanishing out the front door.
“Ahh, Young love.” Marinette’s mother said, as she took a sip of her tea.
Kagami had dragged Marinette pretty far out of the house before Marinette finally asked the most important question. “Kagami. Where are you taking me?” This question finally got Kagami to stop, as she glanced around like a spy.
“I was going through my mother’s files to see if she has any other connections to…” Kagami looks around before leaning towards Marinette and whispering. “Monarch.” Marinette winces at the mention of that name. “But then I stumbled upon a project that my mother started in Paris quite some time ago…It was called the Purometeusu project.” The name of the project gave Marinette a funny feeling, but she kept that to herself as Kagami continued.
“Most of the data on the project was classified, but I was able to find two things out about the project. Firstly the hospital that is being used as the base for the project is Paradise Valley and secondly…” Kagami paused as she looked at Marinette with a solemn look in her eye. “Your name was mentioned quite a lot in the notes…” Marinette ground to a halt as she was just barely able to stop Kagami’s charge.
“What? But what’s to worry about…” Marinette saw that Kagami’s face was now a ghastly shade of white.
“Cause… Anything my mother has her hand in… is something that should not be taken lightly.” Kagami said with the same tone she uses during a fencing match. Marinette gets butterflies as she is captured by the look.
“But? What are we going to do about it? It’s not like we can just walk on…” Marinette stopped as a small grin on Kagami’s face answered her question. “Kagami! We can’t break into a hospital! Just to find out about a secret project!” Marinette was more concerned as Kagami’s face didn’t falter at her points.
“Correct Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Kagami Tsurugi can’t enter the building… But Ladybug and Ryuko can very easily do so.” Marinette saw the wide grin forming on Kagami’s face, as she tried to think of something that would stop Kagami’s plan from happening. But deep down a part of Marinette wants to also find out more about the Purometeusu project. So against her own judgement, she went along with Kagami’s plan.
During the dead of night unaware to anyone inside Paradise Valley, a suspicious puddle was making its way to the lowest levels. Eventually the puddle separated off and reformed into two figures.
“God that was weird…” Ladybug said, as she goes over to a nearby bin and gags, but luckily is not sick. “Well I’m as surprised as you that it worked…” Ryuko was also feeling the same effects as Ladybug, but she was trying to keep a strong face. “But the files did say the project was being done in the lowest levels… So Water dragon was the only way here.”
Ladybug couldn’t argue as she went to gag again. “I’ll try to access the system… While you look around for anything that could tell more about the Purometeusu project .” Ladybug nodded as she went deeper into the lab, while Ryuko sat at the desk and started typing away. Ladybug decided to de-transform, so that she could save her energy for the eventual getaway.
Marinette walked passed rows upon rows of computer towers, all doing things she couldn’t understand. But then she stumbles across a door. While at first finding a door wouldn’t be the weirdest thing in the world, but finding a normal wooden door in a secret lab, now that was strange to Marinette.
So she does the only thing she could in that moment and opens the door. What she found was herself sitting at a desk.
The other Marinette turns to face Marinette, her face remaining emotionless as she said. “Oh it seems I have a visitor. Marinette said with a hint of surprise and shock at seeing the progenitor.” Marinette was at a loss for words.
“Are you okay? Progenitor. You haven’t said a word since you saw Marinette… Marinette doesn't mind the starring. Marinette said bashfully, as she was about to get ready for bed before the Progenitor burst in on Marinette.” Marinette just blinked as she was still taking in the sight of what was in front of her.
It was her. The person standing in front of Marinette was Marinette in every detail. Apart from two, firstly the clothes she was wearing looked kinda like the uniforms Kagami always wore. Secondly the other Marinette’s eyes had no shine to them, they were dull, almost robotic as they match perfectly with the girl’s lack of facial expression.
“Why do you call me the Progenitor?” Marinette was finally able to get a question out of her whirlpool of a mind. The other Marinette just stared blankly at her for a few seconds before responding. “Progenitor means the origin of something… So thereby you are the Progenitor of the Purometeusu project. Marinette said smugly as Marinette knows that Marinette is smarter than the Progenitor.” Marinette was still confused, as she once again heard the Purometeusu project being mentioned.
“What is the Purometeusu project?” Marinette wanted an answer and where better to get it than from herself? Once again the other Marinette stood there silently before finally speaking. “The Purometeusu project was a plan to create the next stage in human evolution. The project was to take one candidate’s DNA and clone it, with each clone certain flaws were removed until the perfect being remained. Marinette explains, hoping the Progenitor is at least able to understand what is being said.” Marinette didn’t want to admit that she was now even more clueless than before.
“How many clones are there?” Marinette was praying the number was low, she was starting to feel more and more sick as she heard more about the project. The other Marinette took slightly longer to reply to this question. “By Marinette's count the clone network is currently at 1013. Marinette full title is Marinette 989. Marinette proudly said as Marinette wants the Progenitor to see how good Marinette is doing.” At these words something clicked in Marinette, she had first seen the clone as being her mirror. But the more she watched the clone the more she realised all these funny quirks are some commonly seen in younger children.
She remembers the time Alya's twin sister spent the whole month talking in the third person or the time when Maron was very young and couldn’t express her emotions in her face. “Well done.” Marinette managed a small smile as she watched the other Marinette’s eyes widen.
“Marinette feels strange. Marinette has never really been praised before. Marinette wants the Progenitor to praise Marinette more.” Marinette just kept smiling as she can’t find it in herself to hate the other Marinette for any of this, she was just another victim in all this as well.
“Maybe I can have a better name than Progenitor… Doesn't really roll off the tongue.” Marinette asked as she noticed the other Marinette stare intently at her for a few seconds. “How about Big Sis? Marinette asked, hoping that Big Sis doesn’t mind the new name that Marinette has suggested.” There was something strangely cute about the childish way the other Marinette asked this.
“That’s fine.” Marinette found it really hard to say no as she felt drawn into the big sister role. “Thank you Big Sis, Marinette told the network and all have agreed to call you Big Sis. Marinette said, happy to finally have a big sis in Marinette’s life.” Marinette just laughed as the antics of the other Marinette had calmed her nerves about this place. She still had many questions but she didn’t mind waiting a bit more for answers.
“Marinette! You won’t believe what I found!” Marinette looked back into the lab and saw Kagami running towards her. She was surprised to see so many emotions on the girl's face. “Marinette! The Purometeusu project is…” Marinette quickly butts in. “A project to create the next evolution of humanity by making clones.” Marinette said while pointing at the other Marinette.
“Oh? That makes my life easier.” Kagami said out of breath, Marinette noticed the clone just staring silently at Kagami before something seemed to have clicked as she spoke.
“Marinette 1000. You’ve returned home! Marinette said, joyful to see the crown jewel of the project before Marinette and Big Sis.”
In these words both Marinette and Kagami shout out the same thing. “Wait What ?!?”