With the sun rising over the camp, the morning bell shrilled powerfully, -as it did every morning- its sound disrupting every peaceful cabin. Wendla awoke moaning at the bell as it showed no sign of stopping. At first she made the decision to ignore it, wishing hopefully that it would cease, as she pushed her face into her pillow. With a grunt she kicked herself out of her top bunk; barely awake and annoyed she stomped to the shared bathroom to wash her face.
In another cabin, Chris jumped as the bell rang. He was a light sleeper and loud noise made him frantic, as a result then the morning alarm would cause him to jolt up and cover his ears until it ceased. Once quiet again, he sighed softly and shuffled from the bunk. At the end of his bunk were a trunk of clothes; he dug out black dress with mesh sleeves and paired it with dark green tights and clunky combat boots. Chris looked over to Danny, who was a few bunks down in the cabin, and waited, although they spoke little to each other Chris had fallen into the habit of following Danny. It made the routine scavenger missions easier.

The rationed sludge left much to be desired, Wendla thought as she poked at the mass. A fellow experiment approached and sat opposite to her.
"Sup, Rabbit," he said, winking playfully as their eyes met. Even while sat down, he towered over Wendla. They exchanged glances and looked down at their plates with a grim frown, remaining silent as they tried to finish their breakfast. With a cautious eye, the breakfast companion lowered his head level to Wendla; "I got some cereal bars, if you want one," he whispered.
Wendla's eyes widened and a grin plastered her face. "Benny, you are a lifesaver." She blew him a kiss as he slid the bar onto her lap. They chatted pleasantly until the second bell of the day rang. With a sigh, they hugged before trundling over to the lab.
Chris winced as the bell rang, his pace became slower as he headed in the direction of the lab. It was time for their daily injections, with each dose their side effects became more dominant. His webbed hands were becoming harder to hide; the thin membrane now was thicker and seemingly fleshier, it made him evermore self conscious. Following their chemical dose; the day's assignments were to be given out. Chris swallowed hard as he reached the doorway, he felt sick as he saw the needles, he would have given anything to swap places with an ordinary person.

It was a few moments before the bell even rang that Danny opened his eyes. The blankets curled around his body in a strict fashion, he let his eyes adjust to the light that had dawned in from the windows. His hands immediately reached for his eyes where he rubbed them hard before he officially heard the sound to wake up. He didn't like being late, he didn't like being last, he wanted to be first and at least five minutes before time. He was quick to pull himself from the sheets, only to pull himself out of the bed and remake the sheets to perfect and pristine condition before he tightened up everything on his clothes. Opening the trunk at the end of his bed, he pulled out his folded clothes, boots, and socks for that day. Before anyone else could get dressed or see him, he was already dressed and ready to go with time on his side.

After relieving himself in the bathroom, brushing his teeth, and fixing everything that he liked it, he was ready to go, having seen Chris, looking frantic still from the sound in his dress, he was already heading toward the mess hall for the breakfast before anyone else in the camp would get up. Some were productive, others were lazy, despite his desire for no laziness in the camp. He pressed his lips together, filling up on what was served. He didn't mind, he found it nutritious, but was not going to complain about what he was given. He knew that people weren't able to really get their fill on the good stuff anymore. They get what they need for survival. And that was the nutritious sludge that now sat in his belly.

Lyla was already sitting up in her bed, legs crossed, and her hair tied back tight when the bell had rung. Having been up for about half hour now, she was not bothered by the sound. It was as if the wavelengths had touched her body before she was even able to respond to the sound. Her hands paused and the little trinkets from her trunk at the end of the bed ceased their ability to float and fell down on to the sheets.

It was time to get dressed.

She bit her cheek, watching other experiments that lived in the same cabin begin their morning routine. Some were groggy, others were happy to be alive another day, and some were unemotional to it all. She didn't know where exactly she fit into the categories. Dawning on the clothing that she usually wears, her trunk was exactly how she wanted it to be, with the clothes that she was able to salvage from different escapades in town. Clothing stores were always the last to be touched as no food or water was in there.

She pulled on tight fit jeans, and short enough that she could easily put them into her boots without the wrinkles around her calf area. inspecting in the mirror that she had expertly placed on the top of her trunk lid. Satisfied with the way they looked, she pulled on a long lace cover up and over her high end brand sports bra that would match with the outfit. It wasn't the best thing in the world, but it would do until she was able to go find some other clothing. Lacing up her boots, making sure they were snug fit and in the right place where she wouldn't get blisters, she walked over and fixed herself up in the bathroom.

It wasn't until she was done with picking at her food at the mess hall, she finally was walking with the group of experiments over to the lab. Those that weren't able to take the injections stared at them, watching their every move. Most times, Lyla wanted to pick them up and throw them outside of the wall facilities, but she knew she would be shot down for not using her abilities for the greater good of the people. That was their job, to protect who couldn't protect themselves anymore. Stepping inside, barely passing in front of Danny who didn't even react to the situation, he just simply looked at her.

Not everyone would get along either.

Standing inside of the room, hearing the same old speech about how they need to react after the injections if anything were to be different since they found something new that would improve everything. She rolled her eyes and heard a grumbling sound come from Danny standing behind her. It was as if he already knew her attitude. She shrugged her shoulders in response and looked ahead, being the first one to take the injection in the vein.

The ooze was thick and black. Almost like her blood when she was injured. She didn't like the feeling of the thick needle being pushed into her skin, but she knew it would help those that couldn't do it themselves. Biting her lip, the doctor paused, having known exactly what Lyla does right before he is to shove the metal in her body. "Don't bite your cheek, Lyla, you're going to bleed out the injection, and you won't be able to control yourself like last time." He said. Without hesitation, she released her cheek, gritting her teeth in another way to cope with the pain, but that was when she let herself ease in when the metal separated her skin layers to put the injection into the vein that was already coated in the stuff.

Now if the mess hall wasn't sludge, their injection liquid was.

_________________

.:Imperfect Perfection:.

It did not take long until it was Chris' turn in the chair. He winced at the sight of the needle nearing his skin. The doctor gripped his arm while an assistant held his shoulders, as Chris had a tendency to jump and squirm in a moment of pain. He yelped as the needle broke the skin; battling the urge to cry, he tried to focused on other things but his mind kept coming back to the needle. Chris remembered every injection, every second of pain as the black liquid poured into his veins. From the very beginning, he knew they made a mistake when choosing him; he wasn't enough to handle the responsibility of being 'special' -at least that's what the doctors called them. Even Chris's side effect served little use unless there was a large body of water around with debris containing salvageable supplies. Now he was stuck; unable to turn back now as his body -much like the other experiments- were dependent on the injections.

"We're done, Christopher," the doctor said, withdrawing the needle and releasing his arm. The assistant patted the boy's shoulder as she left to resume another task. Before getting up again, Chris sat gathering his breath, wiping the tears from his hot cheeks as he had lost that fight. With a sigh he pushed himself from his seat and followed the others until another bunker.

Throughout her injection, Wendla struck up a conversation with her doctor, it was the only time she was civil to the people in white coats. It distracted her and eased her fear that a doctor in a bad mood might purposely make the injection even more painful for her than it already is. At the best of times she didn't trust the white coats; it was a significance of power, a power they had over everyone at the camp. She played nice as the needle released it's advancing poison but left with a scowl.

The experiments all gathered in the neighbouring bunker. There the white coats split them into teams and gave each a list and a location. Wendla rolled her eyes as she was assigned to her group. A bunch of kids who couldn't tell their ass from their elbow, she thought to herself. On the other side of the room, Chris simply made himself small as he was assigned into his group. He didn't know what think about them, most experiments refused to talk to him as he often made mistakes on the missions. He understood their decision, he couldn't even bring himself to dislike them, after all no one wanted to be stuck with the screw up.

Before allowing the experiments to depart the white coats went through protocol once more and took the opportunity to check for any immediate dangerous side effects from the injections. One girl had an allergic reaction to the new formula and was whisked off for invasive action. Wendla pitied the girl yet envied her; the good news would be that the girl would be off the needles for about a week, which was also the bad news.

Lyla was the first to go. As always. The doctor reached for her, his skin sweaty against her own. He was apparently her favorite doctor...As the nurses called it. She felt uncomfortable, having heard him tell her not to bite her cheek in the process of bleeding it out again. She nodded and followed direction, this time not speaking a sound, but gritting her teeth in a way that would be easily managed later. The sludge was squired into her veins and they pulled out the needle. She didn't feel better. She didn't feel worse. It was always the same. Her powers heightened just slightly, but that was as best as it gotten. As the powers would just cease to mainline again. Her eyes blinked as the metal was retrieved from her arm and she was told to crawl out of the chair, letting Chris and Wendla do their injections. Despite who really wanted to be first, Danny just stood there, letting the two go in front of them before he would show the newer ones on how it was done.

He sat down and the doctors hesitated. Their attitudes toward the man that had extreme strength thanks to the injections, they didn't want to see a green monster burst on the table. He didn't say anything, he just looked forward, set in the mood that this was going to be over soon and they had only a certain amount of time before they would have to let him go.

The only good thing about being super strong would be his metabolism was kicked up and the blood was picked up at faster paces causing the injections to turn less syrupy than they were in the needle. He glanced at them, noticing that they were pulling two needles out. "Why did you put two injections?"

The doctor shook terribly as they pulled the second needle away from his skin after putting it in. "We manufactured your own injection to you specifically, and since it is a lower dosage, you need two injections instead of the ususal one." He said, his voice just as shaky as his hands. Danny lifted a brow, feeling a surge of energy come through his veins until he was starting to see the veins more apparent on his arms. He shrugged his shoulders. "If I react differently to this new formula, I will kill you." The doctor shook his head. "I'm sure it won't really change. The formula was changed to enhance more strength and stamina to help you last longer and not crash as fast."

Danny nodded and exited through the door with the rest of the group before they were set into their groups.

Lyla looked around her, watching the group that assembled. Some were sissies, and others pretended to be bad asses so they could 'protect' Lyla. She giggled.

Danny heard the giggle and shot Lyla a look who just simply shrugged it off and shook her head in response. The woman was definitely one to push his buttons, but he knew she could handle herself.

Lyla watched the girl who took an allergic reaction out. She walked with hives all over her skin, and she felt a little nervous now as she glanced down at her own skin, seeing nothing different than a new freckle that might appear from staying out in the sun too long. She was okay.

After paying attention for a solid two minutes before dozing off, she was finally let loose. Glancing toward Danny who walked with pride and knowledge of where they were going, she followed him over to the weapons hut. They were given everything that they would need for their time outside of the city's walls. As the moment that the door closed behind them, nothing else could help them.


It wasn't until they were also outside the gates that some experiments ran. She lifted up her gun, but then decided differently. Letting it drop against her side as it was slung over her shoulder, she lifted her hands, letting the focus play on a man that had ran without much of hesitation. His body lifted from the ground within a few moments and with ease, she threw him to the side, toward the barriers that protect the city's walls. The man didn't live long enough to see who did it.

She glanced back at the newbies. "If you run. I will kill you."

_________________

.:Imperfect Perfection:.

Before the collected experiments disbanded, Wendla made her rounds quickly to wish her choice favourites luck. She didn't see the point of hating the other experiments, at least not all of them, some however could not be helped. In her eyes, the common enemy were the things outside of camp and the occasional scientist, even if some of the newbies' were drove her insane with their incompetence. However long she will be stuck among fellow 'drug addicts', it might as well be as peaceful as possible.

It was a ritual of hers to say goodbye before every mission. She felt strongly about it after a close friend of hers did not make it back one day, they were not on the same team that time and Wendla never forgave that squad for not giving her the chance to say goodbye. She never even found the body. As such she skipped over to Benny, her skip had an extra bounce due to the recent injections, and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. They kissed each other on the cheek and parted ways. On her way to find Chris, Wendla crossed paths with Danny and gave him a parodic salute with a wink. Danny was far more serious than she and not as friendly -usually looking quite miserable too- but Wendla could appreciate his professionalism and determination on a mission.

Still hiding in the corner of the room, Chris stood silently, a lost expression on his face, while waiting for the group leader to make a move. His anxiety eased as he spotted the bobbing of green and blue hair come towards him. They both leaped into a hug, squeezing each other until starved of oxygen. Chris admired Rabbit, she was one of the few who looked beyond his failures.

"Be safe, Chrissy," she whispered as she cupped his cheeks. "Don't let them see you cry today, okay?"

"I'll do my best," he mumbled. "Good luck to you too, Rabbit." They sealed their parting with a kiss on the cheek and followed their groups to the weapons room.

Wendla was not far from Lyla when the other experiments bolted. She rolled her eyes at the threat and sighed. Jumping over the crowd, she stood beside the telekinetic, with hands secured on her hips, she glared up. "Alright. You made your point. It's bad enough as it is out there, you don't need to go around killing all the newbies, leave some for the infected." She lectured. Speaking as someone with a more skill based ability, Wendla did not agree with the practice of using the injection induced abilities against each other. She tolerated the newbies enough to spare their lives, those not fit for the job would be weeded out by the virus. "Learn to lead without killing, kid."

Sighing through her nostrils, she let Lyla be and went on towards the infected zone, her group trailing behind.

Fully equipped, Chris trundled behind his group as a look out. They were tasked to search the outskirts, which had grown wild and unkempt over the years. Chris had a higher chance of being useful, as pools had naturally formed due to excessive rainfall and erosion of the road, however it wasn't the kind of water he was particularly keen on diving into. The outskirts were a wasteland, barely touched by those infected by the airborne virus but a graveyard of those who tried to escape it. Their task was to strip anything salvageable from the skeletal vehicles. No pool diving required this time, Chris was quite content in being the look out.

Wendla's group scavenged abandoned homes; today's target a multi story apartment complex. They started with the very top apartment and worked down, climbing up ten flights of stairs as the elevator had no power. Fortunately for Wendla, she was able to jump most of the way up, using the handrails to push off against. Most of the apartments had very little to offer; some tinned food and batteries at the very most. One of the task force had found a stash of sweets, sneaking off to the other room to scoff it himself. Hearing the rustle of packets, the others followed, pinning him down as the sweet tooth got to taste Wendla's foot in his mouth. Momentarily she felt guilty, wondering if this made her a hypocrite after lecturing Lyla.

She shrugged her shoulders. Lyla wasn't around to judge, besides stealing from the camp was far worse than running from it.