STELLAR: "Montana"

Not even close. And don’t think I don’t know about that little experiment you have going on at your house. Yeah, that’s right. I know about the materials you snuck out in November, never to be seen again. You keep my secrets, I’ll keep yours. Besides, I have a legitimate reason to make copies. I always lose things.

I know they’re using you as experiments. You make it sound like that’s a bad thing. They’re just conducting minor tests on your physiology. All they want is to figure out how you work, learn more about your planets and cultures. It’s harmless.

Stop it, just stop it! Why are you – why are you showing these to me? I don’t want to know! What do you want me to say, huh? Okay, yes, they tell us to check our humanity at the door, but I thought that was because of the kinds of experiments we were doing weren’t regularly sanctioned. I thought that was just because of the status of our organization. I didn’t know that they took it this far. I didn’t…think. I just didn’t think. No. God, this is wrong. I can’t – please, turn it off, I think I’m going to be sick.

Sleep isn’t the problem. It’s all those damn tests they’re putting him through. They’re ruining him - like hell it isn’t my place to talk about it! If someone’s going to ask and listen, then I’ll damn well complain until something is done about it. I thought you of all people would appreciate a friendly ear.

Fugitives from what? The law? Which law are you talking about? America’s? Or IRIS’s? Because last I checked, aliens are humanity’s dirty little secret. No one knows about us, and we aren’t bound by Earth’s customs, so who gave IRIS the right to judge us?

You seem to assume that aliens are incapable of feeling anything. Cob’s done a lot to help me survive in that hole, and if risking my ass will save his, then that’s just fine with me. Haven’t you ever had one person in your life you’d do just about anything for? You know what? Save it. Probably not. You lab coats are all the same. Married to the job, no time to grow a heart, unless it’s in a test tube.

Wally, I thought you were training these kids. You obviously weren’t clear enough when you presented your project to the board. We were under the impression that you were training them for…regardless, the main point of this visit was to see if Project Nocturne would even be possible in a smaller facility like ours. If our facilities or staff are incompetent…Dr. Dangerfield, the next time I see these two, they’d better be under control.

This is the one we talked about over lunch. It’s all in the diet. We’ve been using a new formula in their meals. Coupled with a severe training regimen, we’ve had positive results. Unfortunately, the formula needs to be made fresh, but I can definitely send you the recipe, and our dietary chart and training schedule.

I’ll buy you a smoothie at lunch on Monday, okay? I insist. I am responsible for this. I didn’t mean to put you in this position. Well, it wasn’t supposed to be you…no, no, I phrased that wrong, I’m sorry. The one who was supposed to assist me with the tour couldn’t do it, so she recommended the job to you.

Stop. Don’t do the sanctimonious BS with me. You know I hate it when people do that. You don’t even know the kids’ names, but you’re acting like Firth personally offended you. All you care about is the progress of your project.

I know there are a few people still working down in tech right now, maybe they’ll be able to – are you kidding me? Who in their right mind would leave samples lying around in the darklab? You’ve got to be six kinds of an asshole to do that. It’s basic protocol, I swear. Do you know how many times I have to emphasize that when I’m training the newbies? Do you? This is getting ridiculous.

Yeah, I mean, it’s great that you want to, but you’re not even trained in xeno studies, and I know that your passion lies with the supras. But one step at a time. Who knows? Maybe you’ll come up with a project that’s similar to Souvannasy’s. She works with regs, but she’s getting supras and xenos for Project Nocturne. I’m surprised she hasn’t been lording it over us more though. God knows she usually would.

You shouldn’t be talking to him, Felwoon. He’s IRIS. They’re not “nice”, no matter what they say – if you point that camera at me, I will punch through this glass and cram it down your throat. I am no one’s lab rat, no matter what your colleagues think of me. Spare me the apologies.

When did your wife leave? My apologies. It’s just observation. The spare women’s clothes you lent to Felwoon. Doubt you wear those. A new picture of a woman over the fireplace mantel, too young to be your mother, too different to be a relative. A Christmas photo from this past holiday with the same person, and a little girl. The overflowing basket of cards you keep by your desk in the living room…so when did she leave?

You didn’t make me do anything. I chose to stay. Not sure if my unit stayed together or not, but I know there are other agents like me. At least two in this facility, as far as I’ve seen. They gave me messages to pass on, reports to hand over, which is why I want to get out of here as soon as possible…you are always welcome to wherever I am. And you know you’d have nothing to fear if you were under our protection…but I’ll spare you the spiel.

You honestly think I’d want to be here of my own choice? Do you see what they do to people here? Do you? Because I’m starting to think that you’ve been drinking too much Kool-Aid over the years. No one in their right mind would put up with this…this. You had a choice, Vern. Okay? Your parents cared enough about you to give you this choice. Mine? Mine were just…you know what? Forget it. Forget I said anything. I can see I’m not getting through to you. So go back to your meal, Vern. Enjoy that sweet, sweet Kool-Aid while it lasts. Because one day? It’s not just gonna be Kool-Aid in your cup.

Wait, wait, keep it down, he’ll hear us. I’m not spying. It’s not spying if he’s talking too loud for me to ignore. Get off my case. I’m not here on purpose. I just needed to stretch my legs for a little while, okay? I know they let us pick our rooms, but I made a mistake when I chose to bunk with Sophie and Lou and them. They don’t know when to shut up.

Just leave me alone. I don’t want to talk about it…no, wait. I’m sorry. It’s just, they told me she called again today. And you’re probably going to say, why didn’t you take the call? I just can’t. I can’t bring myself to love her, and I can’t bring myself to hate her. She doesn’t know what she sent me into, but I don’t want her to know. I don’t want her pity, and I don’t want her to start acting like the mother she never was. Because that’s all it’ll be. An act.

My wife? Doing fine, thanks. Raising hell at the office. No one sells houses better than her. IDs please. You already know the drill, Dr. Chang. As for you, Wally, Dr. Firth, I’m going to have to ask that you all keep clear of the cells. Don’t get close unless you have someone watching your back. And even then, I wouldn’t advise it.

Working late so you don’t have to come in tomorrow? I can respect that. Wish I had that luxury. So, I heard what happened down in the arena. Sorry, word gets around fast. You know we have nothing better to do. Think my kids’ll ever get that crazy? I mean, as long as they don’t develop any abilities, I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the mood swings, but geez. I don’t envy you.

Why haven’t you called it in yet? Give me that! Sullivan to SecDep! We need a visual on the intruder. Kelby just said he lost sight of him down in ChemDep, and – hello? Hello? Damn it. Alright, kiddies, buckle up and hold your formation. Do not let him get through, no matter how much he looks like he’s going to crush your head to jelly between his hands.

Lock-down protocols have been stalled. We’re working to get them back up right now. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway. They disappeared a couple hours ago. Security only just discovered their empty cells.

Scalpel. Alright, we’re making an incision from the top of the sternum to the scattered navels. Note the way the facial nostrils flare wider, now that we have the pectoral nostrils stuffed to prevent them from filling with blood. Clean this. Thank you. Alright, now let’s take a look – see how his pupils dilate? Go ahead, hold up your finger, he’ll follow it.

Office door was open. Damn scientists don’t understand the importance of security. Everything seems clear…nice screensaver though. I’m not poking around anything, geez. I know how they get. Are there any of Katy’s pierogi’s left in the breakroom fridge? I’m starving. I’ll grab you a plate if you want. How did we end up on half the night shift rotations for this week? It’s criminal.

I mean, it’s not awful here. You guys treat me well, especially you, Doc. But, uh. I have heard the other kids talk sometimes, when we’re in the mess hall? I don’t…I know we’re all different, so we all have to have different tests conducted on us, but I always thought those tests would be similar, you know? What I’ve been hearing…please, tell me the truth. What do they go through? Does it hurt as much as they say?

Shut up, Adira. You don’t know what you’re saying. They’ve been nothing but good to me since my parents brought me here. I don’t know where I’d be without them, especially Dr. D. He’s…he’s the only one here who’s been patient with my progress. You saw how that new lady got all on me about the match, going on about how my “radius was lacking”, or some crap like that….look, if you can’t take the training, just go home. Stop trying to drag us down.

I mean, it wasn’t me, I swear, I didn’t start it…okay, in my defense, she was getting up in my face about some stupid crap that happened, like, a month ago, which I apologized for, by the way. And then she stole my slice of Napoleon. Who does that? You never mess with someone’s dessert. People get touchy about that sort of thing. Sue me.

Maybe you were tired. Or maybe you weren’t pushing yourself far enough. That’s the whole point of these exercises, to push yourself. Your file says you usually have an eighty-percent success rate in your sparring matches this year. Dr. Chang says that from what he’s seen before, you’re a vicious fighter, but from your work here, I’d say he’s mistaken. Your opponent can still move, and can still find a way out. You should squeeze until you are sure she’s immobilized. Whether you do that by breaking a few bones or stopping her breath, I don’t care. Do it.

She’s got good spirit, Wally. But I highly suggest you modify their training regime, and do so with your other subjects as well. In this day and age, with what we know, it doesn’t do them any good to be as soft as they are now. Or as rebellious.

They are known for their sudden bursts of strength. They are a warring race, very violent. Just because he let you go doesn’t mean anything. You work with supras, Wally, and for all their wonderful talents, they are still human. But Dr. Chang and I, we study these aliens. We know them and their cultures, inside and out, and they are still unpredictable, even to us.