“We do important research here. Even if we were testing substances for use in cosmetics, the use of animals is banned in the UK.”
Kaden pushed a little. “But animal testing still happens for medical, scientific, and regulatory purposes, especially for new drugs and diseases.”
“It does, but not here. You can go almost everywhere in this building and you’ll see for yourself. The only places out of bounds are controlled labs that we have to keep sterile.” She smiled at him. “I need to get back to work. Harris will come as soon as he can.”
She moved away and when Kaden turned to the tank, he saw the little blob lying on the matting, just to the side of the others. Had it fallen? He put his finger on the glass and two blue extensions shot out.Like…hands?As he watched, the blob began to work its way up again right in front of Kaden, but this time, the largest blob followed close behind. Why did he feel so strongly that he wanted the little one to get away?
Maybe because he identified with it. He hated bullies.
“Keep going,” he whispered.
Kaden slid his finger up and the blob followed. Could he move it to the other end of the tank? A different tank? Some of them looked empty. Except he couldn’t do anything if someone was watching. He backed away and shuffled around the room, pretending to look at other stuff and when there were only two technicians in there with him, and they were busy with their backs to him at the other end of the room, he returned to the tank. The little blob was almost at the lid, the big one close behind. If Kaden was going to do this, he had to do it now.
Don’t touch anything.Harris’ voice echoed in his head.
Ah shit. Sorry.
Not sorry.
2
294 could hear the others screaming at him. If the hunters got hold of him, they’d rip him apart, and he was supposed to let that happen. He’d already been punished by Lanu for failing to complete their bond. Ironically, hisother’saction had made 294 nimbler than the rest. He could climb faster but he was tiring.
His sole function was to support hisotheror in the absence of hisother,any hunterwho needed him. The captain, Gash, had survived the crash but 154 hadn’t. 294 felt a moment of regret, as he would for any protector who perished doing their job. When 294 had regained awareness after the impact, he’d seen Gash emerge from 154’s protective shell and known 154 was dead. 294 was pretty sure that 154 had hated Gash as much as 294 hated Lanu. Though they never said that to each other. They wouldn’t dare, but they just knew.
Lanu had somehow survived, unfortunately, along with Keld, the senior navigator. 294 suspected they’d both used 165 for protection because he looked…wrong, too pale and placid. Drained. He was unlikely to survive. Even so, he was chasing 294 with the rest.
There were three other hunters in the tank and one protector. 83 didn’t look as bad as 165 but he was still drained by protecting two rather than one. By rights, 294 was Lanu’s but that meant nothing now. Any of the hunters could take him, use him.
Only ten of them had survived. Sixothersand four protectors including 294. He’d been in the best shape of all of them after the crash. Even after Lanu’s punishment, 294 was still strong. They’d fight over him. He was doomed unless he could get out of this container. His only hope was the human looking at him through the glass. 294 was trying to communicate.
Open the tank! Get me out of here!
~~~
Kaden lifted the lid on the tank, slipped his fingers inside and the blob instantly slid into his hand. Bit late to think he should have worn gloves. But there was no agonising pain, no stinging sensation, and more importantly no alarm sounding. The blob was pleasantly warm, and it felt a little like handling slime but less gooey. He pushed the lid back into place and the larger blob dropped to the matting inside the tank.
“Kaden!”
Shit!He managed to get his hand into the pocket of his lab coat before he turned to face Harris.Do not go red!The blob slid out of his fingers. When he pulled out his hand, he forced himself not to check to see if his skin had sloughed off or turned blue. He felt okay, his fingers still moved but hehadto risk a quick glance. Everything looked fine.Phew.
“I’ve something I want you to see,” Harris said. “Come with me.”
Kaden’s heart pounded with relief that Harris didn’t know what he’d done, and with fear because he shouldn’t have done it. He was going to be in so much trouble if Harris found out. Biggest rule wasDo. Not. Touchand he’d more than touched. He’d picked up and moved. That Harris hadn’t saidDo not pick up and movewasn’t going to be much of a defence if he got caught.
Kaden followed him into another lab and over to a workstation holding a complicated-looking piece of machinery. He reached into his pocket and pressed record, relieved his phone was in a different pocket to…whatever was in the other. It was hard to concentrate on what Harris was saying, and on what Kaden was supposed to be looking at, or to take in how excited Harris was, when all he could think about was what he’d done. What if he’d killed it? What if it was going to killhim? He mightbe spreading some horrible disease or contaminating another lab.
But Max had said the stuff in the tanks wasn’t dangerous. Alisha had sort of confirmed that. If ithadbeen dangerous, it would have been kept in a controlled environment, wouldn’t it? But what if no one realised how lethal it was?Oh fuck.His stomach churned and his mouth lost all moisture. He really hoped that was down to fear and not because he was about to die.
“We’re hoping this will accelerate the development of stem cells. You know what they are, right?”
Kaden tuned back in again. “Self-replicating cells that can form to grow any part of the human body.”
That won him a huff.
“Stem cells are fragile, difficult to grow and expensive to produce. But they’re the future for treating many chronic and degenerative diseases. Globally, we’re moving away from using animals and more towards organ-on-a-chip technology and AI.”
AI? Kaden had mixed feelings about that. It was causing all sorts of issues in the creative world.
