Page 60 of Stryker

“Move,” the guard orderedJohn, who did as he was told. Fighting back wouldn’t get himanywhere right now. He’d save his energy for when itmattered.

That’s when he noticed six cagesscattered around the room, and it wasn’t long before he discoveredwhy. Soon after he was locked in, another prisoner was brought inand one by one, all six prisoners were locked into individualcages.

John looked over at the young boy, whowas shaking in fear. He wished he could somehow comfort him, but hewas too far away to even speak to him. These fuckers were going topay for the terror they were causing.

More guards came in, andJohn found it odd they were all masked, when the guys behind thedesk weren’t. He heard the familiar voice again, and as the manspoke louder, John figured it out. Hedidknow him. It was Kevin, thedishwasher at Gator’s bar. He’d moved to town around the same timeas John, and they’d conversed when he’d stopped by the bar fordinner on his way up to his apartment.

That fucker was working with the NoahGroup. Maybe that was why the guards were wearing masks: they wereall moles sent into their towns to get close to them. They wouldn’twant to be identified.

Well, Kevin could get the fuck out.He’d been rumbled by someone cleverer than him.

“I’m Dr. Smith,” one ofthe men in the lab coats announced.

Yeah, right, Smith, sure.How about Jones or White?

“As prior subjects, youmust be categorized before further testing isconducted.”

“Subjects? What subjects?”the senator asked.

“Some of you might not beaware of the specific set of genes you carry, but rest assured eachof you has been identified as subjects in the genetic experimentsconducted by our founder, Dr. Isabelle Noah.”

Dr. Smith appeared to be the group’schosen spokesperson, but John wasn’t certain he was the person incharge.

“Experiments?” themiddle-aged woman asked. “I haven’t been part of anythingstrange.”

“Oh, but you have, my dearLydia. All will be explained to you in time, but rest assured ourinformation on each of you is accurate. The process was done inutero or prior to implantation into your gestationhost.”

“You mean our DNA wasmessed with?” she exclaimed in horror.

“In some ways, you couldsay each of you was created for a specific reason. You are alltools, and it’s time to reveal your purpose,” Smith said. “And howit can be used to our benefit.”

“Why the bars and guns?”asked another man who looked to be in his twenties.

John took stock of all the victims. Herefused to think of them as subjects. There was the young boy andolder woman who’d been in cells on either side of John, then therewas the senator, the middle-aged lady, and this twenty-somethingman.

“For our safety as well asyours, Darren,” Smith assured.

The young man sneered. “Yeah, right.I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid, buddy.”

“It matters very littlewhat you do and don’t believe,” the doctor continued. Hiscondescending tone was wearing on John. “You will be tested all thesame.”

“How the hell do you thinkyou can get away with kidnapping all of us?” the senatorsnapped.

“Senator Raleigh, you’d beamazed at our power and reach. I’d also advise you to remember yourcontinued good health is completely dependent on ourgoodwill.”

Threats, threats, and more threats.That seemed to be the name of the game around here.

“How can I be of any useto you? I’m seventy-three years old and can barely walk without mycane or see without my glasses,” the older woman stated.

“Mrs. Greer, you all havea place here with us. Consider us your new family. Trust me.Together, we can accomplish things you’ve only dreamedof.”

“Yeah, you use us to getwhat you want. Power, money—sounds all too familiar. That’s yourkind of family values,” Raleigh sneered at Smith. He gripped thebars and gave Smith a “fuck you” gesture.

Smith smiled, his hand barely moving,and the cage bars snapped with electricity, sending Raleigh flyinginto the center of his cage.

“That is a warning. Whilediscussion is allowed, disrespect is punished. You will learn tobehave as you’re told or suffer the consequences,” Smith said.“Now, let’s begin with identification.”

Raleigh lay groaning in pain, holdinghis hand to his chest. The distinct scent of burning flesh filledthe air, and John instinctively backed away from the barssurrounding him.

---