April awoke strapped to the chair that Delta was born into. They wrapped several screens around her.
“Good—you’re awake,” Ash said.
April tried to look but couldn’t turn her head. “What do you want?” she asked.
“First, we need to see what you know about interfacing with neural networks,” the woman’s voice droned on.
April squirmed in the chair, trying to break free. “Why are you doing this . . . What did I do wrong?”
April heard sounds of . . . preparation: the shuffling of feet, and the slight tap of instruments against the metal of an equipment tray. The tears of fearful anticipation were coming . . . she couldn’t stop it. She wept uncontrollably.
“Are you done with your tantrum?” the voice said.
Ash came into April’s view. She spoke as if April wasn’t there.
“Delta 51 shows signs of enhanced learning capability, but the influence of the girl known as Jet has compromised her reasoning ability. As a result, it has affected her learning potential,” Ash told Jeremiah, who appeared at her side.
Ash forcibly opened each of April’s eyelids; the assault of light caused her pupils to constrict.
“Pupil response normal, vitals elevated. Subject is fit. Leviathan has backed up and passed Delta 51 for disposition voidance,” Ash said.
Ash attached several electrodes to April’s head, wrists, and neck.
“Isolating prefrontal cortex region. Preparing to stimulate executive functions,” Ash said.
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“Will she remember any of this?” Jeremiah asked.
“Hard to say, but she might keep some fragments. Shall we proceed?”
Jeremiah gave Ash a nod. Something about his demeanor gave Ash pause.
“Do it already!” Jeremiah snapped.
“Lev, proceed with the transformation.”
“Ash, I’m detecting increased activity in the prefrontal cortex region. Proceeding now may produce unexpected consequences. Do you accept the risks?” Leviathan asked.
“We should run more—” Ash began.
“Proceed, Leviathan,” Jeremiah said, cutting her off.
April opened her eyes, blinking through the tears. One of her head restraints snapped. She turned her head to face Jeremiah.
“Grandfather, stop!”
The lights dimmed as a jolt of electricity coursed through April, and her body convulsed violently. Her tongue slipped out, and Dr. Ash shoved a mouth guard in before April could bite it off. This process went on for several seconds, and then stopped. April didn’t move; the machines connected to her small body showed no activity.
“Is she . . . gone?” Jeremiah said.
Ash checked April’s vital signs. She shook her head at Jeremiah.
“The subject known as Delta 51 has expired,” Leviathan said.
“I thought you said she would be okay,” Jeremiah demanded.
“You heard Leviathan. She said this process could have unexpected consequences. This is on you!” Ash said.
“No, this was supposed to work!” Jeremiah yelled.
Jeremiah pushed Ash into Delta’s lifeless body, and the table rolled into some equipment. Jeremiah wrapped his hands around Ash’s neck and squeezed—
“No!” a female voice said.
Jeremiah looked up just in time to see a small but powerful fist make contact with his left eye. The restraints were still attached to April’s wrists; their metal edges cut into his face as she landed another blow. He staggered back.
Ash looked up. “April?”
The young girl gave Ash a sorrowful look before she kicked her—hard, sending her tumbling to the floor.
“Delta 51, I command you to stop,” Leviathan said.
Delta ignored the order, and instead she jammed both of her small thumbs into Ash’s eye sockets. Ash screamed. Blood spattered on April’s white clothes and face.
Jeremiah froze at the horror he was witnessing.
“Stop!” he managed to cry.
Delta turned her head in Jeremiah’s direction. Her expression was lifeless and cold. “This is on you, Grandfather.”
She raised her hands. Ash dropped to the floor with a single thud. Delta gave Jeremiah an appraising look.
Is she calculating my demise? he wondered.
Jeremiah fled.