Part 3: Let Us All Be Geniuses
Chapter 27: Secrets Unveiled
The Hat Lady was flying in one of the prototype flying vehicles. She had just made it over the northern mountain range. She was heading towards North City. The weather was very cold. Far colder than in the Capital City. She landed the vehicle in a large open shed near the rear of the huge Alset science facility. The small side door slid open. She quickly climbed out and made her way into the facility through the back entrance.
She walked down a corridor; she stopped and entered a room through a silver door. In this room were several Sapes, four adults, and two saplets. An assistant approached her.
‘It’s good to see you, madam,’ said the assistant. ‘The two young ones have made great progress.’
‘Oh my, they have grown,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘They look very healthy. Any problems at all with them?’
‘None at all, madam,’ said the assistant with a big smile.
‘How are they progressing with the training?’ asked the Hat Lady as she rubbed one of the saplet's heads.
‘Unbelievable,’ said the assistant enthusiastically. ‘Let me show you.’
The assistant ran over to a cart full of blocks with letters on them. He pulled the cart over to one of the saplets and emptied the blocks in front of the saplet.
‘Now watch this, madam,’ said the assistant as he turned to face the saplet.
‘How are you, SB06?’ the assistant asked the saplet.
The saplet looked at the blocks. With her mouth, she pulled a few blocks out of the pile to spell the word ‘fine’.
‘That’s fantastic,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘May I ask her a question?’
‘Of course,’ said the assistant, nodding enthusiastically.
‘What colour is the sky?’ she asked the saplet.
The saplet picked up a few blocks. She rearranged them to spell the word ‘blue’.
‘When did he take you outside?’ asked the Hat Lady as she pointed to the assistant.
The saplet paused for a few seconds and then grabbed a few more blocks. She rearranged them to spell the word ‘never’.
The Hat Lady turned to look at the assistant scornfully.
‘It’s not protocol to take them out,’ said the assistant, sounding nervous. ‘They have to be confined to this area.’
‘SB06 is not a name,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘It is distasteful.’
The assistant was about to speak when the Hat Lady interrupted her.
‘Yes, I know its protocol,’ said the Hat Lady in frustration. ‘You didn’t have a choice. Blah, blah, blah….’
The assistant looked downward while pulling a sad face.
‘You have done the best you can,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘I want you to name all six of them.’
The assistant looked up and smiled. ‘Yes, I can do that,’ he said enthusiastically.
The Hat Lady smiled and patted him on the shoulder. She then exited the room and re-entered the corridor.
Demadrian was standing outside the room. He was leaning against the wall.
‘You took one of my toys without permission,’ he joked. ‘I thought you had better manners.’
The two of them turned and began walking down the corridor together.
‘You should be grateful,’ she said as she rolled her eyes. ‘Less time travelling means I can get more work done for you.’
‘More like more time in the Capital City having fun,’ said Demadrian. ‘I know you only just arrived. I’ve been here four days.’
‘What can I say?’ said the Hat Lady as she shrugged her shoulders. ‘The allure of the greatest city in Sapey is a little too much for me.’
They stopped outside a door. Demadrian opened the door and gestured towards the Hat Lady to enter first. She did. The room was a large storeroom. It contained storage units with shelves packed with vials containing either blue, yellow, or green liquids. The Hat Lady walked further into the room. She scanned the shelves with her eyes.
‘This room contains all the phase two serums,’ said Demadrian proudly as he stretched out his arms.
‘The trial on the Sapes appears to be a great success,’ said the Hat Lady as she turned to face Demadrian.
‘You saw it for yourself,’ said Demadrian. ‘The two saplets are now five months old. Three times as intelligent, no health complications, and no need for any further dosages because the upgrade is in the genetics. This is the greatest medical breakthrough of all time. My family will realise that the Linap trials were necessary to guarantee success.’
‘Oh yes, the Linap trials you began before you knew the outcome of the Sape trials,’ said the Hat Lady.
‘What does that matter!’ chuckled Demadrian. ‘There are hundreds of Linap from mining families who want to volunteer so that their children can have a better life.’
‘So they are just expendable,’ said the Hat Lady, shaking her head.
‘That’s your type of language and thinking,’ said Demadrian firmly. ‘They are bravely risking their lives for the benefit of all Linap.’
‘Sounds so noble,’ said the Hat Lady as she shapeshifted into his father. ‘Yet, you daren’t tell me or your grandfather.’
‘Once I have results, real tangible results,’ said Demadrian as he grabbed both the Hat Lady’s arms. ‘They’ll laud me as the most accomplished Alset of them all.’
The Hat Lady became invisible.
‘You need to visit the volunteers,’ said Demadrian. ‘They’re happy and doing very well.’
Demadrian exited the room. The Hat Lady became visible and followed behind him.
They walked some way down the corridor before they turned into another, narrower corridor. At the end of this corridor was a door. Demadrian, followed by the Hat Lady, entered the room. There were eight pregnant females lying in bed. They were watching Saliyah’s latest music video of her song ‘Oh Ryan’ on a new television.
‘Hello, my beautiful ladies,’ said Demadrian as he bowed. ‘I hope you are feeling well today.’
They simultaneously answered in the affirmative.
Demadrian and the Hat Lady walked over to the first volunteer.
‘This is volunteer one,’ said Demadrian as he turned to the Hat Lady.
‘My name is Lucy,’ said the volunteer.
‘That’s nice,’ replied Demadrian. ‘Volunteer one is going to give birth to baby one in just a few days.’
The Hat Lady shook her head as she angrily glared at Demadrian.
‘If he’s a boy, I’m calling him Duffo after my uncle,’ said Lucy. ‘If she’s a girl, I’m calling her Mimi. I’ve always liked that name.’
‘Great, if that makes you happy,’ said Demadrian as he patted her on the forearm.
‘What makes me really happy is that my baby is going to have a bright future and not need to work in the industries or the mines,’ said Lucy as she placed her other hand on top of Demadrian’s. ‘I owe you so much for this great opportunity.’
The Hat Lady continued to stare angrily at Demadrian but did not speak.
Demadrian walked around the room, meeting and chatting with each volunteer. He made it a point to refer to them by number and not name. The Hat Lady followed him but did not say anything.
Afterwards, they entered a small office at the end of the room.
‘See, they’re all happy and incredibly grateful for the opportunity I have given them,’ said Demadrian. ‘This experiment is mutually beneficial.’
‘How much of what you told them is lies?’ asked the Hat Lady.
‘Lies! Lies, you say!’ said Demadrian angrily. ‘You won’t tell me your name nor even reveal what you truly look like. Your whole life is built on deception.’
‘You just won’t let this go, will you?’ responded the Hat Lady.
Demadrian smiled and then began to chuckle.
‘I always knew there was something very special about you,’ said Demadrian. ‘Something noble.’
‘Like a chief’s bastard child,’ joked the Hat Lady.
‘No,’ said Demadrian firmly. ‘More like the missing Carvaress child.’
The Hat Lady’s face fell, and her confidence appeared to drain out of her.
‘That fire at your family’s mansion was horrific,’ said Demadrian as his tone softened. ‘One of the great noble North families wiped out. The greatest tragedy of this district.’
The Hat Lady just gazed blankly at Demadrian.
‘I could never understand the pain you might feel,’ said Demadrian as he placed his hand on her shoulder. ‘I think I might understand your dedication to never revealing your real face.’
‘How did you know?’ asked the Hat Lady sheepishly.
‘The hats,’ replied Demadrian. ‘Your mother always wore such colourful and magnificent hats. I only recently saw some pictures of her. I assume you wear them in memory of her.’
The Hat Lady continued to stare at Demadrian as tears began to roll down her face.
‘Noilemac Carvaress, please, let me see the real you?’ asked Demadrian as he reached towards her.
The Hat Lady walked backwards, shaking her head.
‘No, no, I can’t,’ she said, weeping while walking backwards.
‘It’s okay,’ said Demadrian as he walked towards her. ‘I’m here for you. I love you. One day you will be my wife and the mother of my children.’
The Hat Lady became invisible.
‘All in good time,’ said Demadrian as he sighed.
Sapien Loop: End of an Era
Sapien Loop: Frozen in Time is the sequel to the book Sapien Loop: End of an Era. Sapien Loop: End of an Era is available on Amazon, in collection series on my @spectrumecons account, and in individual chapters in my @captainhive account.
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