Words cannot describe my disappointment with your refusal to cooperate in this lawful investigation. One would think that a person of your integrity and standing would be more than happy to answer my questions. So, I must ask one final time,
Where the hell are they?
Sincerely yours,
David Price
Special Prosecutor
The creature that had convinced itself it was a person named Teresa Brooks examined its body in the mirror.
"Damn, I look good," it said, to nobody in particular. Its glowing red eyes stayed glowing as it carried its two hundred and forty-three centimeter frame into the shower.
After spending what it believed to be an appropriate amount of time and effort to be suitably hygienic, the predator began to suit up. A quick unmonitored call to its human servitors in the Omicrons and another shipment of rare materials would arrive.
A quick stretch popped out a bullet that had been fired on Teresa in vain, probably immediately before the creature bisected the unfortunate who had fired it. The metallic ringing of bullet on tile brought back fond memories of ripping and tearing through that den of... who were they again? People nobody would miss, probably. But it felt good to be that powerful.
Reflections on how awesome it was could wait, however; as it stopped to do its level best to mentally transmit as much affection as possible towards the person in a framed photo, one Ishikawa Masako. Even looking at the image just made Teresa... happier. It felt a little better than crushing its enemies, seeing them driven before it, and hearing the lamentations of dessert the women, and about as good as helping someone in need of it.
The creature was passably human, if not for the sheer muscle mass, multiple mysterious organs, and superhuman strength. In a Navy uniform, everything could be jocularly chalked up to "steroids".
Sixth Fleet, with its security resembling Swiss cheese, was the perfect opportunity for Teresa to seek out the people it wanted to get answers from.
Why was it genetically identical to a childless woman aboard the Huntsville?
What do all these organs do?
How else was it different from "normal" people?
And today, it would get those answers.
It advanced menacingly to the desk, the poor innocent civilian contractor hired as a desk jockey having to inform Teresa "Mr. Higgens, Dr. Brooks is no longer in this facility. I'm sorry, but I can't help you further."
Death radiated from its bionic eyes as it stalked out. A few moments after it left, an impeccably dressed man sauntered to the desk. "That was one of hers, all right. I thought we got them all, but it seems another has cropped up."
I cannot help but notice the complete lack of anything resembling competence in this so-called investigation. All your thugs seemed to be able to do was destroy irreplacable research and kill innocents as collateral damage in the name of justice. I would like to point out, Sir, that your accusations against me fall flat in any objective court of law.
Don't feed me any of this. You know full well they were ticking time bombs. You made them ticking time bombs. And you've set them loose on all of us. Help us save innocent people. Tell us where the safehouses are. If you cooperate, that will be taken into account when you are sentenced. Please. If not for me, then for them.
Sincerely,
David Price
Special Prosecutor
It has to have been fourteen years by now, on the Huntsville. Ever since the goons destroyed my work, I've been here. They don't waste me, I'm a doctor, but the conditions here are appalling. The prisoners get hurt daily, and myself and my crew are the only thing between a senseless death and a rehabilitated criminal.
I saw it the other day. I heard one was alive, and my gentle questioning of one of the thugs the Navy hands over to us told me all I need to know.
One of my wayward children is alive and in the Navy. Her methods are exactly what I expect. My work has vindicated me!
They were perfectly handled the way they were until your men came in to rough me up. That disturbance is what caused those deaths. They will carry out their instructions, and that is exactly what they did. Your men had just shot the only people they would care about right in front of them. Of course the resulting slaughter happened. You walked into this with both eyes open and you still got blindsided. How about you stay away from research and safely condemn me from your office. That way, you can still feel good about yourself and I can do what is best unimpeded.
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