Post by Aubrey on Sept 20, 2009 22:45:17 GMT -5
Sedra
((This is after "Water in the Desert" in Vegas, and after "Moving In" in Chicago. Sedra will be able to return to Vegas in time for the Lost Pieces storyline.))
The streets around the John Hancock Building had been closed for the day, allowing a parade of cars and vans to set up outside the front. Overhead, the clouds were dark and heavy with rain, and a few droplets had already fallen onto the group gathered. Sedra stood nearby, dressed in a thick, blue wool jacket and cradling an umbrella against her shoulder. Waiting next to her was one of her lead scientists, Kiejen435, blinking behind his glasses and directing the other controllers. They were moving the women--who could not move on their own--from the vans, and stacking boxes worth of supplies near the entrance.
Reconstruction of Area 51's medical wing was already underway, and the women who had not been killed by the fire were rounded up to be shipped off to the John Hancock Building in Chicago. It was because of this that Sedra had been forced to take a flight all the way here and oversee the project being moved. She was already bitter about the whole incident, and the fact that the Sub-Visser funding it had pulled her funds out of the project made it worse. Sedra's ability to deal with the annoying Animorphs had been questioned because of the whole thing, something that continued to irritate her.
The rain began to fall harder, and Sedra pulled the flaps of her jacket closer with one cold hand. Her other hand waved at one of the controllers nearby, motioning him closer. "Go alert the Sub-Visser that we have arrived. Don't make me wait." The controller nodded, then hurried quickly into the building to fetch the Sub-Visser. The two had cultivated a tentative alliance with each other. The Sub-Visser, Tenaj216, had helped Sedra gain her position as a Sub-Visser, and since then the two of them had worked together.
Sedra let her gaze wander away from the working controllers to the building looming above them all, stark blue eyes scanning its length. It was such a creepy looking building, and seemed to fit the things that were done within its walls.
At this point Sedra expected Catherine to say something snarky, but she felt nothing from her host. Since the whole grenade-stealing episode, Catherine had withdrawn into miserable silence. It was devastating; to have come so close to freedom, and then be shoved back into chains by the person she had least expected. Luce. Somebody she trusted with her life.
<<Perhaps now you'll drop any silly hope that you've been keeping of being rescued. This world is not yours anymore.>> The comment didn't seem to stir Catherine from her silence. So Sedra shifted her focus away from her host, and let her gaze rest on Kiejen. He looked at her briefly, flashing a weak smile, then looked away.
Janet/Tenaj, Visser 47
Tenaj looked out the window from her office. It was very gloomy and dark out. It was also raining. Tenaj liked the gloomy look outside. It fit this place very well. <<Doesn't it look so.....hopeless for you?>> she taunted her host. <<My son is still out there, after making a fool of you>> Janet chimed back.
Tenaj was still wanting revenge on her host's son for that. Though he had seemed to have disappeared. Hell, all Animorph activity seemed to be non-existant. It pleased and frustrated her at the same time.
On the one hand things in her plant were running smoothly. She was ahead of schdule of what they needed done and was looking quite good in the eyes of her superiors. On the other, she hadn't managed to find her host's son, or Esor's host. What did she say her name was? Sara was it? She'd remember that name.
Her thoughts were interuupted by a controller who rudley dared to inturrupt them. "What is it?!" she snapped. The controller nervously told her that Sub-Visser 48 had arrived. A sly smile showed on her face. "Good.....I'll be right down," she told the controller.
She had known Sedra 149 for awhile. She had even helped her get promoted. She hoped in turn that it would eventually lead to her helping get a promotion of her own further down the line.
She went to the elevator and pushed the btton for ground floor. She waited until the elevator door opened and walked out of it to the outside to meet Sedra.
"Welcome," she told her ally. "It is nice to see you again. Its been quiet over in Chicago, so we shouldn't have any problems handling these women." She gave a sly grin. "C'mon in, let's talk about where this project is going" She motioned for Sedra to follow. She didn't mind the rain, she just wanted a more private place to talk.
Sedra
Sedra rubbed together her gloved hands, trying to warm them from the cold air. Her breaths were coming out in white puffs, and as the rain began to pour harder she felt the temperature dropping. It was a good thing she had grabbed her warmer coat this time. Her host had only ever lived in a warm environment--Las Vegas--and so Sedra was not ready to deal with the difference in temperature. She hoped the Sub-Visser would hurry down quickly.
"Welcome."
The sound of Tenaj's voice turned Sedra's head, and a tight smile spread across Sedra's face. Ahh, the Sub-Visser's familiar face. "Thank you, Sub-Visser." She shifted the umbrella against her shoulder, pulling it further over her head so her hair wouldn't get soaked. So, Chicago hadn't been hit very hard with an infestation of Animorphs yet. That was good news, especially for this operation.
"Really? Can't say I've had the same luck." Tenaj wouldn't be able to see it, as her jacket was covering her arm, but her arm was still bandaged from her car crash. She didn't know how much Tenaj knew about what had happened in Vegas, but didn't particularly want to bring it up herself.
As Tenaj motioned her in, Sedra sent Kiejen a hard look. "Stay here. Make sure they don't screw this up," She said. There was a clear undertone of warning for the controller. She wasn't happy with how her operations had been treated lately, and those under her had to deal with her temper; A couple Yeerks had taken the blame for the failure at Area 51, and more than a few heads had rolled when the medical wing had been burnt down. Kiejen knew this, and nodded nervously at her orders.
Sedra followed Tenaj into the building, her cheeks pink as the warm air hit her face. She shook her umbrella, droplets of rain splattering on the floor, then pulled it close. She looked around briefly, then to Tenaj. "Lead the way."
Tenaj
Tenaj nodded. "We've been lucky only recently. There hasn't been any Animorph activity for a couple weeks." she told Sedra. She had heard a little of the happenings in Vegas. It seemed the Animorphs were becoming a problem there.
She watched Sedra give orders to the controller to watch over the moving in of birth mothers. She smiled that evil smile. She needed more competant people here like Sedra. Maybe with her here now they could be even more productive.
She lead Sedra to the elevator and pressed the button for the floor her office was on when Sedra walked on. When the door closed she said, "I have heard a little of what has happened Las Vegas. I hear the Animorphs there are giving you a hard time," She said the word Animorphs with a particular tone of hatred.
"I don't know much, other than what happened to your birth mother project. And how your funds where being pulled. So I made sure they transfered it over here. They don't understand the break through you've made." she told her sounding excited at what Sedra had been doing. "You've almost found a way to shorten the gestation period right?" AS she finished asking, the elevator door opened and Tenaj walked motioning Sedra to follow to her office
Sedra
"A couple weeks? Ahh, so you've had some activity than," She sounded somewhat disappointed. So the place wasn't completely free of Animorphs, but what places were, really? They were like an swarm of cockroaches, spawning all over and popping up in the worst places, destroying things and ruining plans. Sedra wished they could just be taken care of.
She followed Tenaj into the elevator, pulling off her gloves finger by finger as Tenaj spoke. It appeared that the Sub-Visser had heard about Vegas already. Sedra wondered how far the information had spread, hoping that it hadn't gotten any higher. Failure could mean a lot of things to a Yeerk, especially those in the higher ranks.
"Yes, they were pulled," She said, and by the sound of her voice it was obvious she was angry about this. The Sub-Visser that had the money--Sazoirl--was a Yeerk that Sedra had a lot of trouble getting along with. And things were only getting worse. "Unfairly. But we can continue here, thanks to you, Sub-Visser." She stuffed the gloves in her coat's pocket, rubbing her palms together.
The elevator slowed to a stop, and the door slid open as Tenaj finished asking about the latest break-through. She followed Tenaj out, nodding. "Yes, we are very close to reducing the amount of time to six months. If the facilities hadn't been burnt down, we would be able start now on the newest batch of women. But as it is, we may have to redo some tests to regain lost information." Sedra had been leading a few operations experimenting with the human gestation period, and although it had been filled with missteps, they were getting closer and closer to their goal.
Even knowing that this whole project benefited the Yeerks, there was still an uneasy feeling in her gut. Before the invasion went open, Sedra had become pregnant with her daughter, and had gone through the whole experience, along with the birth. She knew how it felt, and she knew that constantly impregnating these women would eventually kill them. It was a necessary thing, and the hosts gained made it worth it enough in her mind.
<<What if they did something terrible to her? For your "Yeerk cause"?>> For the first time since Sedra had arrived in Chicago, Catherine spoke. Her thoughts were quiet, but had a strong force behind them. Sedra felt her own anger well up at her host. These thoughts of uneasiness she felt had to be Catherine's, and Sedra was letting her host get at her. What did human hosts matter, anyways? They were as good as cattle. <<What would you do, Sedra. She is human, after all.>>
"Tenaj." Sedra cut through Catherine's harassment, her voice reflecting part of her irritation. She had entered Tenaj's office straight behind her, closing the door with a click, sensing Tenaj wanting to talk privately about this. "Do you know who will be overseeing the rest of this project?" Sedra couldn't exactly stay all the time in Chicago, but she had somebody in mind to help head the project here.
Tenaj
Tenaj nodded. "Yes......we haven't been completely lucky here," she told her. This Animorph problem needed to be resolved. They were nothing more than filthy insects to her. And if she ever got her way, they would all be squished into nothing.
Tenaj listened to Sedra. She couldn't believe the yeerk-Sazoirl was it?-pulled funding. This was an important expriment. If they succeded in this they could grow new hosts much faster. How could she not see the bigger picture here?
Reducing the gestation period to six months.....that could change thier operation dramaticly. They could crush what resistance they had left. And the thought of this made Tenaj smile an evil grin. "Redo as much as you want," she told her. "All I care is that we get somewhere with this,"
Janet couldn't believe what these yeerks were planning. <<How can you toy with lives like that?!>> she screamed at her host. <<Simple. You are cattle to us. This is the same as you exprimenting with animals is it not?>> Tenaj told her host
They reached her office and Tenaj sat at her desk, offering a seat to Sedra. She watched her shut the door and then heard her question. "Yes, I will overlook it from time to time," she told her. "I have been following it carefully and have a great interest in it. Granted I have other duties here as well. Do you have someone else you would like to oversee this project?" she asked. She was curious as to who Sedra had in mind.
Sedra
"Ahh, what have they done?" She asked lightly, lifting her eyebrows. Perhaps Tenaj had run across some of the same problems.
Catherine fell silent again, withdrawing to a far off corner of her mind. The both of them knew Luce was part of the Las Vegas faction, and that they would need the her help soon to do what Sedra wanted. Sedra wasn't sure how she would feel, seeing Luce again...Much less asking for her help.
"Of course. And we will, as long as you are willing to support the operation." Sedra knew that the success of the program might lead to her getting a promotion. And now that Sub-Visser 30 was involved, the promotion seemed closer. The thought was exciting, and a sharp smile twitched at the edges of her lips.
She let her eyes wander to a nearby window as the Sub-Visser spoke, watching the rain hit hard against the glass. Rain was so scarce in Las Vegas, and despite it being cold, she enjoyed the rain. "Yes." She shifted her gaze back to Tenaj. "I have brought one of my lead scientists from Area 51 to work with you. His name is Kiejen435. He aided me with this project when it was in Vegas, I think he will be a great help to you." There was more to the story, but Sedra closed her mouth. Kiejen had been deeply involved with the project back in Vegas, along with a few other scientists. The others had been killed for their incompetence--Kiejen, however, had not.
"It is your choice to employ him or not. I think his work is better suited here." She drummed her fingers against the chair's arm. "And the facilities here are much better suited for experimentation than my own. I have heard some of the stories about this place." It was one of the reasons that Sedra had wanted to work here as well. But as it was, she was happy in Las Vegas.
Tenaj
"Not too much since I've taken over," Tenaj said smiling. "They freed the humans we were experimenting on before I took charge here. The previous Sub-Visser 48 was a fool. He didn't know how to run things here," <<You failed to mention what happened a couple weeks ago>>Janet chimed in thier shared mind. Tenaj just ignored her.
She gave a crooked smile. "I support this operation 100%. The work you are doing is very important to our needs." she told Sedra. She coud easily see this as her ticket to gaining a promotion......maybe even enough to be a Visser.
She then listened to her suggestion of who she wanted on the project. She nodded her head. "That sounds fine," she told her. "I may have followed the project, but I have yet to work on it. It only makes sense to have someone who has be around to help. I understand you have your obligations to Las Vegas,"
She then gave an almost gleeful smile at Sedra's mentioning of what she had heard about this place. "Really now? I am interested in what you have heard of this place," she told her with a tone of joy. It pleased her to know that the work she did in these walls was known outside of them.
Sedra
Sedra hadn't heard much about the Yeerk whose place she had taken, but by the sound of it he hadn't deserved his position. There seemed like there were quite a few undeserving Yeerks who had been promoted since the war ended. Of course, Sedra always thought she would be a better fit for a higher rank.
"That is good news. Obviously they are frightened of you," She said, laughing lightly. "Do you know how many are here? Who they are?" If Tenaj had gotten that far, she was on her way to getting rid of the pests. When the Animorphs had attacked in Vegas, they had been foolish enough to reveal themselves to Sedra. She had given detailed descriptions and names to the higher-ups, save one name and description. She wasn't sure if she would give that one. Yet.
She nodded. "Yes, yes. He will be a great help in reducing the gestation period, he has a good idea of where to go. And, as I cannot spend all my time here sadly." That is, if she wasn't rebuked for the Animorph attack in the form of a demotion. She was hoping that the information she had provided about the Animorphs would have balanced the destruction of her facility. It was frustrating to have to deal with, but it was a rocky shore she had to navigate.
"Really now? I am interested in what you have heard of this place," Tenaj said, and Sedra smirked. Being the scientist that she was, she was always interested in gaining knowledge. It was fascinating to her to find out how stuff worked, and what effect something could have on the body or the mind. Her curiousity was part of why Sedra had established a smaller experimentation area at Area 51.
"I've heard about some of what you've done here. Figuring out the extremes of human pain and finding out the best ways to break down a host's will." The last one was something Sedra was particularly interested in, and she knew that it made Catherine feel very uneasy. "I also heard you have been working on some pills to suppress our hosts. How far has that gotten?"
Tenaj
"I wouldn't be doing my job right if they weren't," Tenaj answered with a sly smile. "As for who they are, no they have done a good job of hiding. I know there is at least four. Two of which I believe I know of. My host's son and a YPM member who escaped recently,"
She had an undertone of anger on the last sentence but didn't change her expression much. She nodded. "Yes, I'm sure he will be helpful. I may have a grasp of understanding, but he understands it fully yes?" she asked.
She did wish Sedra could stay and work on it the whole time, though she knew she couldn't. Tenaj at least knew Sedra was competant. It was hard to find those kind of yeerks these days.
She smiled her evil smile as Sedra began listing off what she had heard about this place."Yes.....the mind and how it can be broken interests me greatly," she said with glee. "Seeing how much pain a host can andle is also useful for us to know,"
She then heard her mention the pills. "I wasn't aware that had been known outside of here," she said with a tone of pleasure. "Yes, we are not in production yet, but we have reached the forumal stage. When that is finished and we can find away to make it last for awhile it will go into profuction," she told her. "It pleases me to know my work is known outside of here,"
Sedra
"I see, that's unfortunate. I didn't realize there were many YPM running around still. Disgusting that some of our own race still sympathize with these humans. What do they think they can accomplish, allying themselves with them?" Sedra said, leaning back against the chair.
Despite all that Sedra had gone through, she was still, at heart, a loyal servant of the Yeerk Empire. However, she knew she hadn't always done what she was supposed to. In fact, if she was caught asking for help from the Animorphs--something she was going to do very soon--there could be large consequences. It didn't stop Catherine from mumbling, <<Hypocrite.>>
<<I assure you, once I am doing using them, I will have them killed or infested.>> She wanted to do more than just get her daughter back. She wanted to wipe out the rest of the Animorphs in Vegas. At this thought, she felt Catherine's silent anger.
"Mhm." She had known Tenaj for awhile, and she knew how sadistic the Yeerk could be. It was something Sedra admired in her, and a trait the both of them shared to different degrees. "Perhaps I will be able to help with more experiments in the future." She listened to Tenaj mention the pills. "It is well known within the community about them, and we all look on it with anticipation. It could mean a more complete freedom for us--from our hosts. Have you begun testing it on hosts, yet?"
<<It won't work. You can't just...do that. It's not going to work.>> There was anger in her host's voice, but Sedra could see her thoughts. Catherine was frightened.
<<The faster I can get rid of your incessant whining, the better.>> Sedra snapped back. She straightened, focusing on Tenaj again. Sub-Visser 30 was one of the few Yeerks that Sedra knew she could count on to get things done.
Tenaj
"Yes.....they are worse than the Animorphs themselves," Tenaj responded. "I haven't heard much else about the YPM. Some point soon, I will find out who is one and who isn't. And I will exterminate them."
Tenaj didn't understand how thier kind could sympathize with these....creatures. Though they hadn't become too much of a problem.....yet. When she could, she would be rid of them all.
Tenaj smiled. "Yes....I would like that. You can only find so much good help these days." she told Sedra. "I don't have as many compatant Yeerks as I would like,"
She smiled wider when she asked about the pils. "Yes we have began testing. Though we have achieved different effects. I remember one test, where it suppressed the host too much and killed them. Made the host useless. But that is why we experiment."
<<I still remember how you laughed at thier misery>> Janet commented to Tenaj. Tenaj just laughed. <<So do I.>>
Sedra
"Good. I haven't heard of any YPM in Las Vegas yet, but I am sure there are some." Her main problem was the Animorphs, who seemed to have taken a great interest in Las Vegas. And the city itself hadn't been paid much attention by the higher-ups, leaving it ripe for attack. Since Area 51 was in such close proximity, Sedra was affected by it as well.
"If you need any help getting rid of those pests, I am willing to help," Sedra said, lifting her head slightly. Chicago seemed like a pleasant place to be, and she could see herself dropping by here more often, despite the cold. It almost seemed nice, not having to worry about the Animorphs popping up...Or Luce.
Lately, Sedra had needed to clear her head after everything that had happened in Vegas with Luce. The death of Jals had affected her more than she had wanted, throwing everything into confusion. It was a terrible feeling, finding out that he was still around, only to be told that he had died a terrible death. And if anybody ever found about her and Jals, she would get in deep trouble.
<<This is how it feels.>> Catherine's voice was low, bitter. <<To lose somebody you love.>> Sedra didn't respond to her, feeling her host's anger and resentment. Once Catherine had been infested, Sedra had gone and infested the rest of her family. Her father, mother, and two sisters.
Sedra forced a smile on her face. "It killed them? Hmm. Well, it's good to hear that it is moving along, at least. This project has been gone along slowly as I know." She glanced to the window again, watching as water trickled down the glass. "I suppose the movers are done by this time, I should probably go down and check how they are setting things up." She looked back to Tenaj, a pleasant smile spreading on her lips as she stood from her chair. "It was nice speaking with you again, Sub-Visser. Perhaps we can find some time to feed together. I'll be in Chicago for a week before I leave for Vegas again, helping this place get set-up." She bent to grab her umbrella, then straightened. "Be well."
Tenaj
"Yes, they seem to pop up just as often as the Animorphs don't they?" Tenaj commented on the YPM. She nodded. "I will keep that in mind. If I ever need someone to help me be rid of those pests I will be sure to let you know."
<<Even a sadistic bitch like you has friends it seems>> Janet commented in thier shared mind. <<Hmm.....I guess you could call her a friend>> Tenaj responded to her. She thought of Sedra as an ally sure, but friends? Hmm......now that she thought of it yes.....they could be called that.
She turned her attention back on Sedra. "Yes it has been very tedious so far. But it has had some rather......interesting results. Some more entertaining than others. So I don't mind how slow its going," she told her smiling sweetly, letting Sedra imagine what results they had.
She then watched Sedra stand up. She had to go? Pity. "Yes it was nice speaking to you as well," she told her. "Maybe we can." She smiled. "You too. You're welcome in Chicago whenever you wish. See you around."
((This is after "Water in the Desert" in Vegas, and after "Moving In" in Chicago. Sedra will be able to return to Vegas in time for the Lost Pieces storyline.))
The streets around the John Hancock Building had been closed for the day, allowing a parade of cars and vans to set up outside the front. Overhead, the clouds were dark and heavy with rain, and a few droplets had already fallen onto the group gathered. Sedra stood nearby, dressed in a thick, blue wool jacket and cradling an umbrella against her shoulder. Waiting next to her was one of her lead scientists, Kiejen435, blinking behind his glasses and directing the other controllers. They were moving the women--who could not move on their own--from the vans, and stacking boxes worth of supplies near the entrance.
Reconstruction of Area 51's medical wing was already underway, and the women who had not been killed by the fire were rounded up to be shipped off to the John Hancock Building in Chicago. It was because of this that Sedra had been forced to take a flight all the way here and oversee the project being moved. She was already bitter about the whole incident, and the fact that the Sub-Visser funding it had pulled her funds out of the project made it worse. Sedra's ability to deal with the annoying Animorphs had been questioned because of the whole thing, something that continued to irritate her.
The rain began to fall harder, and Sedra pulled the flaps of her jacket closer with one cold hand. Her other hand waved at one of the controllers nearby, motioning him closer. "Go alert the Sub-Visser that we have arrived. Don't make me wait." The controller nodded, then hurried quickly into the building to fetch the Sub-Visser. The two had cultivated a tentative alliance with each other. The Sub-Visser, Tenaj216, had helped Sedra gain her position as a Sub-Visser, and since then the two of them had worked together.
Sedra let her gaze wander away from the working controllers to the building looming above them all, stark blue eyes scanning its length. It was such a creepy looking building, and seemed to fit the things that were done within its walls.
At this point Sedra expected Catherine to say something snarky, but she felt nothing from her host. Since the whole grenade-stealing episode, Catherine had withdrawn into miserable silence. It was devastating; to have come so close to freedom, and then be shoved back into chains by the person she had least expected. Luce. Somebody she trusted with her life.
<<Perhaps now you'll drop any silly hope that you've been keeping of being rescued. This world is not yours anymore.>> The comment didn't seem to stir Catherine from her silence. So Sedra shifted her focus away from her host, and let her gaze rest on Kiejen. He looked at her briefly, flashing a weak smile, then looked away.
Janet/Tenaj, Visser 47
Tenaj looked out the window from her office. It was very gloomy and dark out. It was also raining. Tenaj liked the gloomy look outside. It fit this place very well. <<Doesn't it look so.....hopeless for you?>> she taunted her host. <<My son is still out there, after making a fool of you>> Janet chimed back.
Tenaj was still wanting revenge on her host's son for that. Though he had seemed to have disappeared. Hell, all Animorph activity seemed to be non-existant. It pleased and frustrated her at the same time.
On the one hand things in her plant were running smoothly. She was ahead of schdule of what they needed done and was looking quite good in the eyes of her superiors. On the other, she hadn't managed to find her host's son, or Esor's host. What did she say her name was? Sara was it? She'd remember that name.
Her thoughts were interuupted by a controller who rudley dared to inturrupt them. "What is it?!" she snapped. The controller nervously told her that Sub-Visser 48 had arrived. A sly smile showed on her face. "Good.....I'll be right down," she told the controller.
She had known Sedra 149 for awhile. She had even helped her get promoted. She hoped in turn that it would eventually lead to her helping get a promotion of her own further down the line.
She went to the elevator and pushed the btton for ground floor. She waited until the elevator door opened and walked out of it to the outside to meet Sedra.
"Welcome," she told her ally. "It is nice to see you again. Its been quiet over in Chicago, so we shouldn't have any problems handling these women." She gave a sly grin. "C'mon in, let's talk about where this project is going" She motioned for Sedra to follow. She didn't mind the rain, she just wanted a more private place to talk.
Sedra
Sedra rubbed together her gloved hands, trying to warm them from the cold air. Her breaths were coming out in white puffs, and as the rain began to pour harder she felt the temperature dropping. It was a good thing she had grabbed her warmer coat this time. Her host had only ever lived in a warm environment--Las Vegas--and so Sedra was not ready to deal with the difference in temperature. She hoped the Sub-Visser would hurry down quickly.
"Welcome."
The sound of Tenaj's voice turned Sedra's head, and a tight smile spread across Sedra's face. Ahh, the Sub-Visser's familiar face. "Thank you, Sub-Visser." She shifted the umbrella against her shoulder, pulling it further over her head so her hair wouldn't get soaked. So, Chicago hadn't been hit very hard with an infestation of Animorphs yet. That was good news, especially for this operation.
"Really? Can't say I've had the same luck." Tenaj wouldn't be able to see it, as her jacket was covering her arm, but her arm was still bandaged from her car crash. She didn't know how much Tenaj knew about what had happened in Vegas, but didn't particularly want to bring it up herself.
As Tenaj motioned her in, Sedra sent Kiejen a hard look. "Stay here. Make sure they don't screw this up," She said. There was a clear undertone of warning for the controller. She wasn't happy with how her operations had been treated lately, and those under her had to deal with her temper; A couple Yeerks had taken the blame for the failure at Area 51, and more than a few heads had rolled when the medical wing had been burnt down. Kiejen knew this, and nodded nervously at her orders.
Sedra followed Tenaj into the building, her cheeks pink as the warm air hit her face. She shook her umbrella, droplets of rain splattering on the floor, then pulled it close. She looked around briefly, then to Tenaj. "Lead the way."
Tenaj
Tenaj nodded. "We've been lucky only recently. There hasn't been any Animorph activity for a couple weeks." she told Sedra. She had heard a little of the happenings in Vegas. It seemed the Animorphs were becoming a problem there.
She watched Sedra give orders to the controller to watch over the moving in of birth mothers. She smiled that evil smile. She needed more competant people here like Sedra. Maybe with her here now they could be even more productive.
She lead Sedra to the elevator and pressed the button for the floor her office was on when Sedra walked on. When the door closed she said, "I have heard a little of what has happened Las Vegas. I hear the Animorphs there are giving you a hard time," She said the word Animorphs with a particular tone of hatred.
"I don't know much, other than what happened to your birth mother project. And how your funds where being pulled. So I made sure they transfered it over here. They don't understand the break through you've made." she told her sounding excited at what Sedra had been doing. "You've almost found a way to shorten the gestation period right?" AS she finished asking, the elevator door opened and Tenaj walked motioning Sedra to follow to her office
Sedra
"A couple weeks? Ahh, so you've had some activity than," She sounded somewhat disappointed. So the place wasn't completely free of Animorphs, but what places were, really? They were like an swarm of cockroaches, spawning all over and popping up in the worst places, destroying things and ruining plans. Sedra wished they could just be taken care of.
She followed Tenaj into the elevator, pulling off her gloves finger by finger as Tenaj spoke. It appeared that the Sub-Visser had heard about Vegas already. Sedra wondered how far the information had spread, hoping that it hadn't gotten any higher. Failure could mean a lot of things to a Yeerk, especially those in the higher ranks.
"Yes, they were pulled," She said, and by the sound of her voice it was obvious she was angry about this. The Sub-Visser that had the money--Sazoirl--was a Yeerk that Sedra had a lot of trouble getting along with. And things were only getting worse. "Unfairly. But we can continue here, thanks to you, Sub-Visser." She stuffed the gloves in her coat's pocket, rubbing her palms together.
The elevator slowed to a stop, and the door slid open as Tenaj finished asking about the latest break-through. She followed Tenaj out, nodding. "Yes, we are very close to reducing the amount of time to six months. If the facilities hadn't been burnt down, we would be able start now on the newest batch of women. But as it is, we may have to redo some tests to regain lost information." Sedra had been leading a few operations experimenting with the human gestation period, and although it had been filled with missteps, they were getting closer and closer to their goal.
Even knowing that this whole project benefited the Yeerks, there was still an uneasy feeling in her gut. Before the invasion went open, Sedra had become pregnant with her daughter, and had gone through the whole experience, along with the birth. She knew how it felt, and she knew that constantly impregnating these women would eventually kill them. It was a necessary thing, and the hosts gained made it worth it enough in her mind.
<<What if they did something terrible to her? For your "Yeerk cause"?>> For the first time since Sedra had arrived in Chicago, Catherine spoke. Her thoughts were quiet, but had a strong force behind them. Sedra felt her own anger well up at her host. These thoughts of uneasiness she felt had to be Catherine's, and Sedra was letting her host get at her. What did human hosts matter, anyways? They were as good as cattle. <<What would you do, Sedra. She is human, after all.>>
"Tenaj." Sedra cut through Catherine's harassment, her voice reflecting part of her irritation. She had entered Tenaj's office straight behind her, closing the door with a click, sensing Tenaj wanting to talk privately about this. "Do you know who will be overseeing the rest of this project?" Sedra couldn't exactly stay all the time in Chicago, but she had somebody in mind to help head the project here.
Tenaj
Tenaj nodded. "Yes......we haven't been completely lucky here," she told her. This Animorph problem needed to be resolved. They were nothing more than filthy insects to her. And if she ever got her way, they would all be squished into nothing.
Tenaj listened to Sedra. She couldn't believe the yeerk-Sazoirl was it?-pulled funding. This was an important expriment. If they succeded in this they could grow new hosts much faster. How could she not see the bigger picture here?
Reducing the gestation period to six months.....that could change thier operation dramaticly. They could crush what resistance they had left. And the thought of this made Tenaj smile an evil grin. "Redo as much as you want," she told her. "All I care is that we get somewhere with this,"
Janet couldn't believe what these yeerks were planning. <<How can you toy with lives like that?!>> she screamed at her host. <<Simple. You are cattle to us. This is the same as you exprimenting with animals is it not?>> Tenaj told her host
They reached her office and Tenaj sat at her desk, offering a seat to Sedra. She watched her shut the door and then heard her question. "Yes, I will overlook it from time to time," she told her. "I have been following it carefully and have a great interest in it. Granted I have other duties here as well. Do you have someone else you would like to oversee this project?" she asked. She was curious as to who Sedra had in mind.
Sedra
"Ahh, what have they done?" She asked lightly, lifting her eyebrows. Perhaps Tenaj had run across some of the same problems.
Catherine fell silent again, withdrawing to a far off corner of her mind. The both of them knew Luce was part of the Las Vegas faction, and that they would need the her help soon to do what Sedra wanted. Sedra wasn't sure how she would feel, seeing Luce again...Much less asking for her help.
"Of course. And we will, as long as you are willing to support the operation." Sedra knew that the success of the program might lead to her getting a promotion. And now that Sub-Visser 30 was involved, the promotion seemed closer. The thought was exciting, and a sharp smile twitched at the edges of her lips.
She let her eyes wander to a nearby window as the Sub-Visser spoke, watching the rain hit hard against the glass. Rain was so scarce in Las Vegas, and despite it being cold, she enjoyed the rain. "Yes." She shifted her gaze back to Tenaj. "I have brought one of my lead scientists from Area 51 to work with you. His name is Kiejen435. He aided me with this project when it was in Vegas, I think he will be a great help to you." There was more to the story, but Sedra closed her mouth. Kiejen had been deeply involved with the project back in Vegas, along with a few other scientists. The others had been killed for their incompetence--Kiejen, however, had not.
"It is your choice to employ him or not. I think his work is better suited here." She drummed her fingers against the chair's arm. "And the facilities here are much better suited for experimentation than my own. I have heard some of the stories about this place." It was one of the reasons that Sedra had wanted to work here as well. But as it was, she was happy in Las Vegas.
Tenaj
"Not too much since I've taken over," Tenaj said smiling. "They freed the humans we were experimenting on before I took charge here. The previous Sub-Visser 48 was a fool. He didn't know how to run things here," <<You failed to mention what happened a couple weeks ago>>Janet chimed in thier shared mind. Tenaj just ignored her.
She gave a crooked smile. "I support this operation 100%. The work you are doing is very important to our needs." she told Sedra. She coud easily see this as her ticket to gaining a promotion......maybe even enough to be a Visser.
She then listened to her suggestion of who she wanted on the project. She nodded her head. "That sounds fine," she told her. "I may have followed the project, but I have yet to work on it. It only makes sense to have someone who has be around to help. I understand you have your obligations to Las Vegas,"
She then gave an almost gleeful smile at Sedra's mentioning of what she had heard about this place. "Really now? I am interested in what you have heard of this place," she told her with a tone of joy. It pleased her to know that the work she did in these walls was known outside of them.
Sedra
Sedra hadn't heard much about the Yeerk whose place she had taken, but by the sound of it he hadn't deserved his position. There seemed like there were quite a few undeserving Yeerks who had been promoted since the war ended. Of course, Sedra always thought she would be a better fit for a higher rank.
"That is good news. Obviously they are frightened of you," She said, laughing lightly. "Do you know how many are here? Who they are?" If Tenaj had gotten that far, she was on her way to getting rid of the pests. When the Animorphs had attacked in Vegas, they had been foolish enough to reveal themselves to Sedra. She had given detailed descriptions and names to the higher-ups, save one name and description. She wasn't sure if she would give that one. Yet.
She nodded. "Yes, yes. He will be a great help in reducing the gestation period, he has a good idea of where to go. And, as I cannot spend all my time here sadly." That is, if she wasn't rebuked for the Animorph attack in the form of a demotion. She was hoping that the information she had provided about the Animorphs would have balanced the destruction of her facility. It was frustrating to have to deal with, but it was a rocky shore she had to navigate.
"Really now? I am interested in what you have heard of this place," Tenaj said, and Sedra smirked. Being the scientist that she was, she was always interested in gaining knowledge. It was fascinating to her to find out how stuff worked, and what effect something could have on the body or the mind. Her curiousity was part of why Sedra had established a smaller experimentation area at Area 51.
"I've heard about some of what you've done here. Figuring out the extremes of human pain and finding out the best ways to break down a host's will." The last one was something Sedra was particularly interested in, and she knew that it made Catherine feel very uneasy. "I also heard you have been working on some pills to suppress our hosts. How far has that gotten?"
Tenaj
"I wouldn't be doing my job right if they weren't," Tenaj answered with a sly smile. "As for who they are, no they have done a good job of hiding. I know there is at least four. Two of which I believe I know of. My host's son and a YPM member who escaped recently,"
She had an undertone of anger on the last sentence but didn't change her expression much. She nodded. "Yes, I'm sure he will be helpful. I may have a grasp of understanding, but he understands it fully yes?" she asked.
She did wish Sedra could stay and work on it the whole time, though she knew she couldn't. Tenaj at least knew Sedra was competant. It was hard to find those kind of yeerks these days.
She smiled her evil smile as Sedra began listing off what she had heard about this place."Yes.....the mind and how it can be broken interests me greatly," she said with glee. "Seeing how much pain a host can andle is also useful for us to know,"
She then heard her mention the pills. "I wasn't aware that had been known outside of here," she said with a tone of pleasure. "Yes, we are not in production yet, but we have reached the forumal stage. When that is finished and we can find away to make it last for awhile it will go into profuction," she told her. "It pleases me to know my work is known outside of here,"
Sedra
"I see, that's unfortunate. I didn't realize there were many YPM running around still. Disgusting that some of our own race still sympathize with these humans. What do they think they can accomplish, allying themselves with them?" Sedra said, leaning back against the chair.
Despite all that Sedra had gone through, she was still, at heart, a loyal servant of the Yeerk Empire. However, she knew she hadn't always done what she was supposed to. In fact, if she was caught asking for help from the Animorphs--something she was going to do very soon--there could be large consequences. It didn't stop Catherine from mumbling, <<Hypocrite.>>
<<I assure you, once I am doing using them, I will have them killed or infested.>> She wanted to do more than just get her daughter back. She wanted to wipe out the rest of the Animorphs in Vegas. At this thought, she felt Catherine's silent anger.
"Mhm." She had known Tenaj for awhile, and she knew how sadistic the Yeerk could be. It was something Sedra admired in her, and a trait the both of them shared to different degrees. "Perhaps I will be able to help with more experiments in the future." She listened to Tenaj mention the pills. "It is well known within the community about them, and we all look on it with anticipation. It could mean a more complete freedom for us--from our hosts. Have you begun testing it on hosts, yet?"
<<It won't work. You can't just...do that. It's not going to work.>> There was anger in her host's voice, but Sedra could see her thoughts. Catherine was frightened.
<<The faster I can get rid of your incessant whining, the better.>> Sedra snapped back. She straightened, focusing on Tenaj again. Sub-Visser 30 was one of the few Yeerks that Sedra knew she could count on to get things done.
Tenaj
"Yes.....they are worse than the Animorphs themselves," Tenaj responded. "I haven't heard much else about the YPM. Some point soon, I will find out who is one and who isn't. And I will exterminate them."
Tenaj didn't understand how thier kind could sympathize with these....creatures. Though they hadn't become too much of a problem.....yet. When she could, she would be rid of them all.
Tenaj smiled. "Yes....I would like that. You can only find so much good help these days." she told Sedra. "I don't have as many compatant Yeerks as I would like,"
She smiled wider when she asked about the pils. "Yes we have began testing. Though we have achieved different effects. I remember one test, where it suppressed the host too much and killed them. Made the host useless. But that is why we experiment."
<<I still remember how you laughed at thier misery>> Janet commented to Tenaj. Tenaj just laughed. <<So do I.>>
Sedra
"Good. I haven't heard of any YPM in Las Vegas yet, but I am sure there are some." Her main problem was the Animorphs, who seemed to have taken a great interest in Las Vegas. And the city itself hadn't been paid much attention by the higher-ups, leaving it ripe for attack. Since Area 51 was in such close proximity, Sedra was affected by it as well.
"If you need any help getting rid of those pests, I am willing to help," Sedra said, lifting her head slightly. Chicago seemed like a pleasant place to be, and she could see herself dropping by here more often, despite the cold. It almost seemed nice, not having to worry about the Animorphs popping up...Or Luce.
Lately, Sedra had needed to clear her head after everything that had happened in Vegas with Luce. The death of Jals had affected her more than she had wanted, throwing everything into confusion. It was a terrible feeling, finding out that he was still around, only to be told that he had died a terrible death. And if anybody ever found about her and Jals, she would get in deep trouble.
<<This is how it feels.>> Catherine's voice was low, bitter. <<To lose somebody you love.>> Sedra didn't respond to her, feeling her host's anger and resentment. Once Catherine had been infested, Sedra had gone and infested the rest of her family. Her father, mother, and two sisters.
Sedra forced a smile on her face. "It killed them? Hmm. Well, it's good to hear that it is moving along, at least. This project has been gone along slowly as I know." She glanced to the window again, watching as water trickled down the glass. "I suppose the movers are done by this time, I should probably go down and check how they are setting things up." She looked back to Tenaj, a pleasant smile spreading on her lips as she stood from her chair. "It was nice speaking with you again, Sub-Visser. Perhaps we can find some time to feed together. I'll be in Chicago for a week before I leave for Vegas again, helping this place get set-up." She bent to grab her umbrella, then straightened. "Be well."
Tenaj
"Yes, they seem to pop up just as often as the Animorphs don't they?" Tenaj commented on the YPM. She nodded. "I will keep that in mind. If I ever need someone to help me be rid of those pests I will be sure to let you know."
<<Even a sadistic bitch like you has friends it seems>> Janet commented in thier shared mind. <<Hmm.....I guess you could call her a friend>> Tenaj responded to her. She thought of Sedra as an ally sure, but friends? Hmm......now that she thought of it yes.....they could be called that.
She turned her attention back on Sedra. "Yes it has been very tedious so far. But it has had some rather......interesting results. Some more entertaining than others. So I don't mind how slow its going," she told her smiling sweetly, letting Sedra imagine what results they had.
She then watched Sedra stand up. She had to go? Pity. "Yes it was nice speaking to you as well," she told her. "Maybe we can." She smiled. "You too. You're welcome in Chicago whenever you wish. See you around."
