Dark Rose

by Odeena Sabnach

Chapter 1

Cher paced back and forth nervously. More than half an hour had passed since the mysterious call she had received, and yet, there was no sign of Maya Seiki yet. For the hundredth time she pondered whether this could have been simply a prank set up by her former colleague. Cher didn't doubt that she would be capable of that. And yet, Maya's last phrase was still ringing in her ears.

Nothing will happen tonight. 'What could that mean?' Cher wondered silently, leaning the small of her back against a desk with a tired sigh. Could Maya have known about Cheza's unusual behavior earlier that day? And if she did, how had she found out? No report on this had been written yet. No-one had left the lab, and the even surveillance system had been down for maintenance.

Then...?

The sudden sound of approaching footsteps made her start up, and she felt her fingers tighten on the small revolver instinctively. She listened. Not one, but two distinct sets of footsteps could be heard. One was the quick and rhythmic sound of high heels, so it could only have belonged to Maya Seiki. The other was heavier and more determined. Undoubtedly, it belonged to a man. It didn't take long before two figures came in sight.

Cher peered through the thick lenses of her laboratory glasses, trying to make out their features in the dim lights of the laboratory. The tallest of the two - a guard, if she were to judge by his uniform and weapons - immediately positioned himself in front of the door, gun armed, and activated a small switch that made the heavy titanium plaques close with a hiss. The other took a step forward, and Cher recognized the familiar features of her former colleague.

Maya Seiki had changed very little, Cher noted as she briefly scanned the one standing before her. She still wore square glasses with thick lenses, which made her eyes look unnaturally large, and her lips still held her characteristic, all-knowing smirk. Her hair was slightly longer now, and could have been less dark than in the former days, although this may have been merely an effect of the poor lights. Suddenly, Cher felt uncomfortable. She swallowed dryly, and then she spoke, "Well, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

The other woman smiled, but her expression held no warmth or appreciation. "You can forget about the gun, Cher. Besides, we both know that it's not loaded, anyway."

Cher didn't know that, and the unpleasant feeling around her deepened. Reluctantly, she did as she was told, and she folded her hands in her lap, leaning the small of her back against a desk. "So then, what--"

"Don't ask anything", Maya cut in, her voice strangely flat. "You will be told what you need to know, and nothing but that."

Had there not been for the guard, Cher would have cut in and angrily demanded an explanation. However, given the strangeness of the situation - the late hour, the unusual visit, the armed guard - she nodded her head and sat down in a chair. Maya did the same.

"How long have you been studying Cheza?"

Cher was caught unprepared by the question. "Well... about three years... I think", she answered after a few moments.

"And what information have you gathered so far?"

The other brushed back a lock of hair behind her ear nervously. "Well... not very much, but we're working hard, so--"

"Have you found any means to awaken her?"

"No, but--"

Maya raised her hand. "You don't have to tell me about today. It doesn't mean anything."

"Look, if you know something I don't, you'd better--"

"What do you know about her DNA?" the other woman interrupted sharply.

Cher took several deep breath in an attempt to calm down. She could already feel her temper rising. "We know that it is a mixture of vegetal DNA, possibly coming from a Lunar Flower, and human DNA, so basically we're dealing with a flower in human form - a hybrid, if you will. She--"

Maya sighed and cut her off with a rather annoyed gesture. "You aren't telling me anything new", she said, and for the first time her voice seemed to carry an actual emotion with it - that of disappointment.

"Well then, why don't you tell me something new!" Cher snapped, unable to contain herself any more.

Several moments passed before the answer came, "Lord Oakum has taken notice of your skills."

This came as a shock, and Cher was momentarily dumbstruck. Of course, it had been by lord Oakum's order that this entire project had been started, but surely he did not--

"However, he is disappointed with your progress so far."

The other woman bit her lip. Everyone was disappointed with their progress; and yet, this was the first time that she was actually told so in the face. The feeling it stirred was not at all pleasant.

"His Lordship believes that you deserve more than this. Much more. Due to your repeated failures, many have been doubting you lately, and several very influent persons have suggested that you be replaced. This is why I've been sent here - to help you."

Cher's eyes widened in surprise. "Help me? But -- how?" she stammered. "You haven't--"

"Come", the other woman cut her off abruptly, standing up and making a rather imperative gesture towards Cher. Reluctantly, the doctor followed, her mind racing to catch up with the latest developments. The guard opened the door wordlessly, and the small group exited and began walking down one of the many corridors of the research facility.

"I've been assigned on a project much similar to your own", Maya began suddenly, in a voice hardly above a whisper. "I was to research another human hybrid, genetically engineered by his Lordship's designs. I have to say I wasn't so enthusiastic at first, but then I discovered something fascinating. My subject's DNA consisted not of two, but of three separate genotypes put together. One was human. Another was vegetal - belonging to a rose, I figured. And there was one more - a strange pattern, such as I had never seen before. The DNA of a wolf."

Cher stopped in her tracks. "That can't be!" she gasped. "They've been extinct for more than two hundred years!"

The other woman shrugged, much like she used to in the old days. "It took us ages to figure what it was", she continued as they resumed walking. "I'm guessing the chromosomes were manually engineered after some virtual replica, but that's just an assumption."

The party entered a tubular lift, and Maya typed a rapid code on the glowing dial panel. "Anyway, we've been unable to wake up our own subject, too", she resumed. "Until now."

Cher's breath caught in her throat. "You mean--"

"Yes. There may be a way. And in a few days' time, we'll know for sure."

Maya seemed to have decided she had said enough for the time being, and silence descended. As for Cher, the meaning of the other's words had yet to sink in. Absently, she noted that the red numbers of the indicator above the elevator doors had reached -29. There was no level dubbed -29 as far as she was aware, but it seemed that the night would be full of surprises. As the display reached -30, the elevator stopped, and the doors slid opened noiselessly, and the three exited.

The corridor they had descended into was stunningly bright, and despite the late hour, there was plenty of activity going on. Immediately, the guard saluted and went his own way, quickly disappearing into the crowd. Maya took out a small card from her pocket and handed it to Cher. "You'll need this here", she advised.

Cher looked down at it. It was some sort of an identity pass; however, it was nothing like anything she had ever seen before. She opened her mouth to demand an explanation, but Maya shook her head and took her arm, bidding her to follow.

They walked in silence for what seemed to be a very long time. Guards and scientists were speeding along in both directions. All seemed to be deep in thought, hardly paying any attention to what went on around them. Cher shuddered. This was the cold, impersonal attitude some scientists took on, immersing themselves into their own mind and shutting the word outside. She hated it.

Eventually, the two reached a massive set of titanium doors. Two guards were placed on either side, and they nodded their head respectfully as Maya approached. However, they eyed Cher with undisclosed suspicion as she came to a stop beside her companion.

"She'll be working with me from now on", Maya advised. "Is that clear?"

Cher started. She had never heard her former partner speak with so much authority before. It had an immediate effect. The guards nodded their heads once more, and then resumed their posts wordlessly.

"Good." Maya inserted her card in a small slot, and the doors slid open slowly with a loud hiss. "Come, doctor", she said, entering. "It is time for you to meet our subject."

Cher followed, a sense of overwhelming curiosity drowning all her other emotions. The laboratory she had entered was dark, and unconsciously she welcomed it after the bright light of the corridors outside. The only light came from a massive tank, much like that in which Cheza was held, set on a platform in the center of the room. Cautiously, the doctor advanced until she was standing next to it.

"Don't worry", Maya's voice came from somewhere behind her. "He's perfectly harmless. For now."

Cher looked up, and drew back with a small gasp despite herself. The 'subject', as Maya had called him, appeared to be no more than a boy, hardly twenty of age, with long, crimson hair and dark skin. His eyes were closed, and his features were contorted in a pained expression which made her shudder inwardly. Maya's voice seemed to come from very far away as she said, "Cher Degre, meet your new research subject - Celestin".