1119 Q9
Q9 Tour

"Makes the bad ones worse?" Asked Sam, why would the government want to make the bad ones worse. Up until this point, he had been holding on to the hope that the government was still hoping to help these people. He answered the question for himself though, because as much as he hated to admit it, some of these empowered would make excellent soldiers. No, more than that. From what he had heard, some of them would make incredibly effective weapons of mass destruction.

"I think I get it."

1116 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"So there are other clowns in this freakshow, what are they like?"

1120 Q9
Q9 Tour

"Yeah, one of them was being moved and just nutted up. Scott ended up shooting him--killed him too, it was a good shot. Lightwood hit the roof and nearly nutted up herself when she found out. Apparently she's one of those raving 'there's good in everyone' people and she thought she could save him."

1116 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"It isn't a freak show, Kat," Lightwood said seriously. "These are real people who have been badly hurt and lived messed up lives before the supernova. They want to improve, and they have the capacity to, but they don't know how. As for how many people are here, it's a bit hard to tell. The number fluctuates, and they're bringing people in all the time now, especially since they widened the description to anyone exhibiting powers."

Lightwood sighed.

"Q9 is growing, and quickly. But the most interesting thing is I have yet to see any duplicate powers. Each person has something that no one else in the world has. It's like...it's like their powers are part of their DNA, and just needed the right conditions to emerge. It's fascinating, really, and sometimes I wonder if everyone doesn't have a bit of power hidden within them. All they need are the right conditions for the power to come out."

1120 Q9
Q9 Tour

This guy is preaching to the wrong congregation, thought Sam. Because on that point at least, he agreed completely with the Doctor. There was some good in everyone, there had to be, even if you had to dig. "Let's keep moving, I'm supposed to leave for Burg in a few hours."

1116 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"And you think you can recreate those conditions. Don't you?"

1122 Q9
Q9 Tour

"Sure thing," Robby nodded and started swiftly down the hallway, only stopping for a moment to code through another door. He turned down another concrete and metal hallway, then turned and opened a large sliding door. They walked through into the sharp, all white area, sharp lights glaring down at them. A girl huddled against the transparent wall of a cube, nearly blue, snow flurrying around the cube. After a moment, Sam realized that there were other cubes stacked haphazardly around the room. Some looked as if someone had arranged them neatly, while others were simply tossed in.

"This way," Robby said cheerily, briskly walking through the cubes and paying them no mind.

1116 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"I'm not sure. It's hard to determine what makes the change or if it would be possible to undo it. The government doesn't care about that. I find it fascinating, but then, well, I'm not exactly a cookie cutter government official, either. They need me because of what I know, not my personal interests or agendas."

1122 Q9
Q9 Tour

Sam crouched in front of a the blue girl and found himself resisting a very strong urge to touch her and the cube. Whatever they were, they were light years ahead of anything he had ever been briefed about. "Robby, what in the name of Pete are these?"

1116 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"These mutations, they were caused by the supernova. Correct? I know that radiation can scramble gene sequences, so have you people found the screwed up chromosome? Have you detected any unusual radiation particles not normally found on our planet? There’s got to be some outlier here and it shouldn’t be too hard to find.”

Kat paused for a moment, almost surprised by herself. “I guess those college courses paid off. Somewhat.”

1123 Q9
Q9 Tour

"What?" Robby stopped and turned around, coming back to where Sam was. "Oh, those are stasis cubes. Basically, like, freezes them in time, but not with cold. That one must have a winter power or something. Sometimes when these freaks get put into them, they try to fight it when they get knocked out. Your guess is as good as mine what it was trying to do, dunno. Ice through the walls or something."

1116 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"The modifications are not actually caused by radiation. That's just a handy label the government has put on it to scare people," Lightwood explained. "The problem is, since everyone's DNA is different, you can't just compare someone with a change to someone without one. Instead, to isolate the change on the chromosomal level, I would need to look at the same person's genetic material before and after the supernova occurred. I have a theory about it, however, to prove it, I would have to examine multiple samples. It is nearly impossible to get sample from before the supernova, and the government has decided it isn't worth the effort."

Lightwood stopped and looked at Kat.

"How much science have you studied, Kat?" she asked.

1123Q9
Q9 Tour

Sam stood up and backed away from the Cube, "alright, lets keep going."

---

1117 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"A little bit, I had the misfortune of focusing mostly on computer sciences. But I took a few courses in Genetics, one secondary course in AP Biology. I was always the smart one. Typically I was studying while Sammy played Rugby, or whatever sport that he happened to be the Captain of at the time. The academy only offered two sports for girls, needless to say I wasn't interested in Polo or Tennis. Boxing was fun though, of course dad didn't approve of that."

Kat looked up at Tamara, "have you inquired with the military? They would probably have what you need." It's true, the Army kept blood and tissue samples of every single soldier, stored safely in an underground bunker under a mountain somewhere. Then, you would just have to find an empowered trooper.

1124 Q9
Q9 Tour

"Sure thing," Robby said, wandering between the stacked cubes and toward the next large door. Each cube held its own person; some just appeared to be asleep, others as if they had been caught in time, struggling against unseen powers. They exited and continued down a hall. Finally, Robby opened a door.

"This is one of the rooms, just the basics. Like I said, some of 'em dress their rooms up a bit, but when it comes down to it, this is it."

1117 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"There's no use inquiring with the military," Tamara said, her lips disappearing into a thin line. "They shoot any of their own who reveal powers. If there are any still alive, they would be wise to keep it hidden."

1124 Q9
Q9 Tour

"Looks like a military barrack room, I guess that makes sense." Sam had good memories of a room that looked very similar to this one up on the Burg military post, it's where he had slept for most of his adult life. Unfortunately, he wasn't under the impression that many good memories would be made in this particular sleeping quarter.

1117 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"Makes sense I guess, most of the Army brass are a lot like my dad. Bitter old men who dislike not being in control of everything. Even if they didn't kill the soldiers who exhibited powers, I doubt they'd let this place touch them."

1125 Q9
Q9 Tour

"Right then, Dr. Steele's office is a bit ways away. Now, if you'll just follow me...."

1117 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"They will want it eventually, once they realize the usefulness," Tamara said. "That's partly why this is not a military project--which is a good thing, I think."

Tamara shook her head.

"But all that aside, now we need to figure out what we are going to do with you. I think I've already expressed my desire to keep you out of the program, however, that is much easier said than done. We need a reason why you were removed from it."

1118 Q9
Lightwood's Office

Well, there is the fact that I'm a slight genius. I once hacked into the Octagon HQ using a tablet and since the Nova I've gained Eidetic memory. I think that your organisation might find me more useful when I can think for myself."

1118 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"Kat," Tamara began slowly, "I need to warn you about something. This isn't just a rehabilitation facility--it's a training facility. If I were you...I would mention that part of your power. Ever."

She paused and thought.

"You did, however, mention that you had done well in science. Does that interest you much, or was it just an coincidence?"

1118 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"Science was my best subject, I'm by no means an expert on it though. Like I said, computer sciences were what I loved. Tough luck for me I guess, what with the grid being knocked out and all. But I can hold my own in chemistry and the like, top of my class. Why, you don't seem like the type who needs a kid to help you. At least in this area."

1118 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"It is hard to find intelligent, mature and eager young people to work in this field, especially considering the sensitive matter being dealt with. I think I could make the case that you are such a young lady."

1118 Q9
Lightwood's Office

"I wouldn't go that far, but if it keeps me away from whatever you people do then sure, I'm down for that."