New Discoveries

I've been looking deeper into the goo Foster made. It seems I could possibly handle many different things without ruining it. Like water. Which gave me a wonderful idea. Walking into the office I set down my stuff. It's been a couple of days since I started research so the new batch was already on their second education day. But Rock was concerning. He took longer with walking, can barely read, and can't write at all. And he hasn't matured in the slightest. He's like a child, compared to the others at least. Even with the emotional states they have, they can comprehend and have conversations, and Rock can't. Foster eventually caught on and has been messing with Rock. Poor boy.

I entered the lab, water bottle in hand. I pulled out one of the large tubes of goo and placed in on the metal table. I pried open the top and opened the bottle. I poured in a drop. Like oil with water, they didn't mix. I poured in more, until it was about the size they should be. Not that the goo wouldn't shrink it, and then grow over time. I watched the water blob slowly move as one in the solution. It'd hopefully come together overnight. I set the vial in the fridge and went about my day. Open the doors. Give Leaf medicine. Write down new side effects: self-isolation, quietness, low attention span.

She was just getting worse. Sure, she never got angry or emotional. But she didn't show anything else. Her positivity seemed forced. But I sent her off to her room anyway. I sighed, slouching in my chair. If she wasn't what Foster wanted, she'd surely be defective.

"Xavier," Foster said sternly. I swiveled in my chair to look at them.

"Yes?" He pulled out some papers and handed them to me. They detailed challenges to test the objects.

"I can't test their true abilities unless they can be tested properly. Some of the supplies will be here tomorrow. I want you to pick them up on your way in. I expect you to set it up and then I'll perform the tests. You will be with me to take notes. I'll let you take over after one week." I sat silent, talking in the information. I had some worry that these tests wouldn't be friendly.

"Of course, I'm ready," I responded with fake confidence. Of course, I wasn't ready. After he left I brought everyone their lunches. I sat at my desk trying to focus. But I kept thinking about the water creature hopefully forming. If you could put water, that meant you must be able to put water-based things right? Like... bubbles? Sure. I'd buy some and try it tomorrow. My thoughts were distracted by a squeal from my mic wall.

"HELP! My heads all hot and scary!" Match's voice screamed through the speaker. I quickly stood and opened the wall to her room. She cried, her top on fire. I grabbed her delicately and blew it out, her friends watched in amazement. The damage was limited but she was effective, so I'd have to fix her.

"I'll bring her back tomorrow," I told the other, which meant her education was delayed. Shame.

"Is she okay?" Flower asked me.

"Of course! Just a little injury, not to bad." Rock watched silently.

"You okay Rock?" I asked him. He looked up at me and smiled, giving a reaffirming hum. No talking. I sighed and closed the door, bringing Match to the lab. I opened the fridge, the water blob catching my eye. Could... fire work? Surely. Maybe? I'll bring my matchbox tomorrow. I grabbed an empty vile and opened it, letting the liquidy light green goo coat my fingers. I rubbed it on the burnt part of her head.

"What are you doing?" She asked hesitantly. I finished, wiping it from my hands.

"It fixes your wounds," I said calmly, picking her back up. She seemed content. I put her in her room and brought out Flower and Rock for learning. Flower did very well, at least for missing an eye. But Rock...still wasn't catching on. He got distracted by the pretty pictures in the book, and he couldn't even draw a slightly straight line. It worried me. But I continued on, trying to help Rock along the way. After I was finished I went to Ice Cubes room to grab her, hoping she was over the drama.

"Hey Ice Cube. Do you wanna-" Her smile dropped in a second.

"No! I don't wanna go!" She yelled defensively. I sighed.

"It's alright you don't have to..." I said quietly, closing the door.

- - -

"What was that about?" Block asked watching Ice Cube storm off. He turned to Leaf. She stared off, absent from the conversation.

"Leaf?" He asked, waving a hand in front of her face. She blinked back in.

"Oh! I'm sorry what did you say?" She asked quietly. He sighed.

"No it's alright I'll go ask her myself." He said beginning to walk over to Ice Cube. He sat next to her.

"What happened to your friend?" He asked almost mockingly. But he stopped as she teared up.

"You were right Block! He was mean..." She sputtered quietly.

"Ah. Well, don't worry about it! You still have us!" He reassured her with a smile. She smiled.

"Well I'm glad for that, but I liked hanging out with him. It's a shame he's like that..." she seemed more upset than angry.

"Don't worry about him now! Why don't we go read something?" Block offered, standing up. Ice Cube smiled and stood, joining him to enjoy activities.

Snowball sat silent, staring at the grass. This was about the time Ice Cube came by. He knew because he got giddy like his body knew it was time. And he hoped and kept thinking of apologies he could give her. Anything he could do to fix things. But she never showed up. He hopes she'll come tomorrow. He tugged at the grass and pulled more out, throwing it away from himself. The book cart caught his eyes. He approached the cart and looked for the colorful cover. When he found it he took it with him and sat down again. He opened the book and desperately tried to comprehend what he was reading but he just couldn't read all the words on the page. He wished he could read right. But he was a failure.

- - -

I let everyone go into their rooms and left the office, my stuff in hand. I wondered what type of tests the kids would face. What could Foster do? A lot. I walked into my home and thought about calling Teressa. I gave in and dialed her. The moment she answered I got a lecture about not calling her. I lied and said work gave me a lot to do. All it really gave me was nervousness. I lied again, saying I had to do some work and couldn't stay long.

"Promise you'll call tomorrow... you know I don't have anyone else out here..." they asked softly into the phone. I sighed with guilt.

"I will. Promise." And with that, I hung up. I shouldn't lie. But if I stayed on the phone they'd definitely realize I WAS lying. A lot. And I DID feel bad leaving her alone. She had no friends in the city she worked in with their dead end office job, but I can't let her know I'm lying! It'd break their heart.

I walked into my kitchen and rummaged through my drawers looking for my matches. While looking, I found a small dollar value bubble solution. I stared at it, glad I didn't have to buy any. I continued searching and found my matches, checking to see them all inside. Perfect. I went on with the rest of my day and went to sleep.

As I pulled into the small parking lot I could see a large box outside the door. I stepped out of my car and inspected the box. It seemed to be what Foster was expecting so I set my papers on top of it and carried it in. My weak arms were not ready for that heavy box. I set it on my office floor. I'll come back to that. I went to the sleeping rooms and opened all the doors and everyone slowly got up and began walking out. Leaf was extremely slow compared to the others.

"Let's go now!" Leaf weakly climbed into my hand with a smile. A weak one. I carried her to my office and set her down, beginning to prepare the needle.

"When will I get better?" She asked meekly. I stopped and looked at her.

"I...I don't know." I said quietly, looking down at my needle. I kneeled down and she looked at me, her eyes tired.

"I just don't feel any better. I feel worse." She whispered sadly.

"It will be better soon I'm sure." I lied. Clearly, this stuff was hurting her. But I had to do it. She opened her mouth and I injected the needle under her tongue. She tensed, verging on tears. She was strong, that was sure. I carried her to her room and set her on the grass. As I walked away I looked at Snowball's room. He must be lonely. But maybe he is a loner. I hope he's a loner.

The lab was cold as I entered. I opened the fridge and pulled the tube out. It worked! The small teardrop was fully formed! Arms and all. I opened the tube and pulled them out. They were clear and liquid, but you could hold them. I laid them down on a towel and grabbed my tools. I hated this part. I opened the small one's eye and she stirred, but no sound. I used my metal tool to pull open the side and put in the tracker. But there was no scream. Their mouth opened, but there was nothing.

Then, a squeak. A strained, upsetting, dry squeak. Their vocal cords. They must be underdeveloped. Poor thing. They did cry though. So I held them, comforting them. I opened their mouth and checked, a girl. I held her in my hands, trying to listen for any noises, but still nothing.

"Hello, little one," I said quietly. She opened her mouth, no sound but another sad squeak. She kept forcing out those terrible cracking, dry squeaks. I didn't know if it made her defective but I wasn't ready to give her a death sentence. I put her in the room next to Flower, Match, and Rock. She didn't mind, curling up on her side.

I walked into my office and grabbed scissors, opening the box. There was a bunch of metal and plastic plates, and a nice instructions book. I pulled everything out and found a large bag of screws as well. What a workout I have. I stood and peeked into Fosters office.

"Do we have any screwdrivers around here?" I asked quietly.

"There is a bag under the table in the lab." They said without turning around to face me. I nodded to myself and entered the lab. The bag was there and I grabbed it, bringing it back to my office. Time to get to work I guess.

Hours passed, I took a break to give everyone lunch, do Match's education, then I was back to work. When I finished I seemed to have made a pretty good maze! I carried it out and Foster helped me put it in a testing room, where it would be temporarily. I stood and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

"This is quite the maze, Dr. Foster," I said looking at all the twists and turns.

"It's quite the electric maze, Dr. Xavier." He said smiling. Electrically shocking them. I should've known it couldn't be peaceful. Someone always has to get hurt.

I really underestimated the difficulty change from 900 word chapters to 1800 word chapters huh

My bad hah

But I try my best

In other news!!!

Minnesota's been fun if you've kept up with recent events

If any live here as well you know what I mean haha

But I didn't leave the house anyway so more reason to get stuff done right???

:•)