"David Matthews was arrested along with eleven other members of his party, the New Justice Party, and convicted of arson. Newly discovered documents reveal that the party had been investing in the Finchley Company for years, a company that many experts had categorised as suspicious. Investigators concluded that the party may have been attempting to cover its tracks". David Matthews’ angry face, desperately trying to proclaim his innocence, was displayed on the small monitor.

"Looks like your mission was successful" said Simon, holding a test tube in front of his eyes. Estelle should probably be happy about her successful work. But why did everything still feel so bitter? She leaned her head back into the soft cushion of the treatment chair. The bright white light shone down on her from above like a spotlight, reflected in the transparent infusion tube. The bare white walls, the many colourful test tubes, the medical instruments – it would give anyone goosebumps. The only thing missing were flickering lights and Simon, who looked at her with a warm-hearted expression and said, "Everything will be fine, love. It's just a little twinge at the beginning."

For anyone else, this would be the setting for a horror film, but for Estelle, it had become her second home. She came here regularly and hadn’t been afraid for a long time. Simon's all-too-typical concentrated – uninterested – expression was still focused on the test tube in front of him. He ran a hand through his golden-blonde hair while his green eyes briefly flicked towards the screen. "I didn’t realise you were interested in the news. Usually, it’s that tasteless comedy series you like so much."

The corners of Estelle's mouth curled up slightly. She had first met him when she was five years old, and in her opinion, he had hardly changed in all those years. In her eyes, he hadn’t even aged, even though he had been in his early twenties when they first met. "I want to see the election results and find out who will be the new Prime Minister." Unimpressed, the doctor glanced at her for a moment before turning back to his test tube. He gave her no response. But she wasn’t surprised. Simon had never been interested in politics and its machinations.

Images of a cheering crowd flashed past them. The winner, and therefore their new Prime Minister, took to the podium. Gunner Fox, the new leading candidate of the Loyalist Party, had won the race. A middle-aged man who was able to win over many with his charming manner. When the cameras panned back to his smiling face, Simon was already switching off the monitor. He didn’t have much sympathy for his new employer. "The only thing that’s changing is the person at the top. The company itself remains the same," he always said.

Simon pulled the needle from the infusion tube out of her arm and carefully pressed a small plaster onto the puncture site. She stared up at the ceiling, her gaze fixed. She would probably never get used to this. He sat down in front of her with a diagnostic lamp and said, "You know the procedure"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

After a brief eye test, he ran the cold stethoscope along her chest. Finally, he took her pulse. "Jenkins came to see me the other day and complained that you only do the compulsory lessons and don’t train enough in your free time"

Her head tilted slightly to one side. "I’m just not really the sporty type, not someone who can run well..."

Simon looked her in the eye. "I totally agree with you. I don’t think I’ve ever had to treat anyone here after a mission as often as I’ve had to treat you. He’s a bit right, though. I won’t always have the chance to treat you"

He then turned around on his little round stool, wheeled himself over to the computer, and typed something into the document. Simon turned his head towards her. "You know what comes next?"

Estelle carefully gripped his wrist and nodded slightly.

They were both standing in front of what was probably the most expensive appliance in the room. And although it was pricier than anything else here, it didn’t really look that special. It was nothing more than a slightly larger transparent box with a round hole and a leather strap around it. She slid her hand through the hole, and Simon wrapped the leather strap tightly around her wrist. When he pulled it even tighter, she winced slightly. Then the EEG cap was placed on her, the one in which she always felt like a cyborg. The doctor typed something into the computer and turned to her.

Estelle knew exactly what that meant and closed her eyes. A familiar warmth spread through her hand. The flame flickered softly in Simon’s green eyes as he asked, “Can you make it a little bigger?” Her gaze narrowed slightly as she concentrated. The heat spread further, but it wasn’t uncomfortable; her hand didn’t feel as though it were burning. By the time she heard the first keystrokes, the flame had already faded from her hand. Simon opened a small slit at the top of the box and dropped in a few scraps of paper.

“All right, let’s get on with...” Before he could finish, the scraps of paper were already swirling around wildly in the box, and the sound of Simon’s fingers typing rapidly filled the room. If her hand had felt like a hot summer’s day earlier, it now felt as though a fresh breeze were blowing past her. When the room fell silent again, she knew it was time to move on.

Drops trickled down her hand, and it wasn’t long before the box began to fill more and more with water. “Very good... Only one element is missing now.” A sense of restlessness spread through her body. Her hand started to tremble more and more. You still don’t accept yourself, a voice whispered in her mind, and she drew in a sharp breath. The light bulbs all over the room shattered, and her eyes widened. Anyone else might have taken a few steps back in fear, but Simon merely gazed up at the ceiling, unfazed. “We needed new ones anyway.”

With her body still trembling, Estelle whispered an apology, “I... I still can’t control it that well”

When Simon had completed the final entries, he finally detached her from all the devices. She ran her fingers gently over the red mark on her wrist. It wasn’t the first time, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Estelle made her way towards the door, but Simon called her back. She turned to find him holding out a white paper bag.

“Happy birthday”