He was barely conscious when the elevator door opened, frame smoking from the blast as the brunette walked out to the waiting men. They were on him in seconds. The collar closed around his throat, giving a testing jolt. When he was pulled out to the roomier hall, the men shoved him forward as the man in spectacles approached, smiling and clapping slowly.
“A grand performance! Such potential. That is what we are looking for.”
Teddy felt as though the bottom had been pulled out from under his heart. His hand clutched at his burnt chest as he pant and watched the man warily, aware of all the guns trained on him. “This was...”
“Yes,” The woman said as she took her stance by the man in the lab coat, her arms folding. “We were the ones playing you false, C-11.”
“It is one of the better ways of seeing what you are capable of, after all.” The man then frowned. “Sadly, you will need some work.” He saw the stricken look on Teddy’s face. “Oh, come now. We do it to everyone eventually. You should have seen how your speedster friend performed.” He then smiled, that mirthless, monstrous sort of smile. “Honestly, did you think it was a coincidence that everyone was asleep? The collars do that as well, you know. You had no real chance of freeing them or escaping.”
“What about her,” Teddy demanded, pointing to the unruffled brunette. “You’re sick enough to risk your peers?”
“Peers? Oh.” The man chuckled. “You still think that she’s human. No, the real doctor is elsewhere. This is but a puppet, easily replaced, even with the modifications.”
Teddy felt as though he might be sick.
“Now, while we are glad to learn so much from your little attempt, you do need to understand that escape is not acceptable.” The man pulled a small device with buttons from his pocket. “Honestly.” Again that mirthless grin. “Did you think we removed all the explosives? We only removed the ones that would explode if distanced too far from your collar.” His thumb jabbed down.
It didn’t make much sound, more of a muffled pop. Teddy’s eyes widened in shock, his lower right rib having compacted outward, blood splattering on the floor. He grabbed at the hole, sinking down with a pained breath.
“Three more to go. Care to guess where they’re located?” The man’s thumb hovered over the control pad. Teddy stared, still in shock. “You would like to be able to patch up that hole, wouldn’t you?” He didn’t dare answer. “Of course you do. I am going to lower the collar’s inhibiting. You seal your little hole. Then you are going to go with these nice men to the lab, aren’t you? You won’t be causing any trouble, will you. Correct, C-11?” When Teddy didn’t answer his smile faltered. “Speak.”
“Yes, sir...”
“See, that’s all we need. You and your fellows are going to make such excellent weapons.” He pressed a button and Teddy winced before realizing only his collar had been shut off. The green flesh instantly started webbing across his blown rib, dragging bone back where it should be. The man turned away, hand flipping out airily. “Get him back to the lab. I don’t expect him to be anymore trouble. Cadmus will be picking him and some of the others up soon enough.” He sighed, pushing on his glasses. “Ah, but Cadmus is so much luckier. So much better means of controlling their subjects... Alas.”