Battlefield (6 page)

Lunch was always delicious.  Unlike many camps and schools, the International Genealogy Laboratory always enlisted actual chefs to cook so the food was actually edible.  There was a cafeteria adjacent to the kitchen that highly resembled a typical high school cafeteria with various silver tables and matching benches.  Somehow, Gerard and Devyn actually managed to eat together without getting into a huge fight.  Then again, Hugh and Rachel were there in order to ensure nothing broke out, though they had to admit it would be quite amusing if such a thing did happen.

Devyn had her tray of food – macaroni and cheese, Caesar salad with no chicken, and a glass of milk.  For dessert, she had chocolate pie that she had been eyeing since she walked inside.  If Devyn had a weakness, it was anything chocolate.  The young woman met Rachel and Hugh who were already sitting down at their usual table in the back of the room.  As always, Rachel was eating something remarkably healthy – a salad and ice tea – while Hugh resembled a typical male stereotype down to a tee; on his plate, he crammed as much food as he possibly could from all different food groups on the plate, would most likely eat every piece and then go back for seconds.  And somehow, he wouldn’t gain an ounce of weight.

“Macaroni again, Devyn?” Rachel asked with a smile, slowly arching her brow up.  “Why am I not surprised?”

“You know me and cheese, Rach,” Devyn replied with a grin of her own before turning her focus downwards and scooping a big bite of the pasta on her fork.  She placed the food in her mouth, closing her eyes as she reveled in the taste of it.

“It looks like she’s having a orgasm,” a familiar Scottish voice said as pale green eyes quickly sculpted Devyn’s features before the man took a seat beside her.

“Trust me,” Devyn said after she swallowed the food, a satisfied smile on her face as she finally opened her eyes and glanced sideways at Gerard.  “That’s the only orgasm of mine you will ever see.”

“Is that so?” Gerard asked, trying to keep the amusement out of the smirk that touched his face.

“It is,” Devyn said, nodding her head.

“You guys,” Rachel said, shaking her head as though something was obviously wrong between the two of them.  “You’re breeding partners, and even more than that, you’re hot breeding partners.  There’s obviously sizzling sexual tension between the two of you.  Why don’t you take advantage of the fact that IGL
wants
you to procreate, and have at it?”

Gerard smirked, his eyes half closed as he glanced over at Devyn almost lazily.  “Trust me,” he said, mimicking Devyn, “I was all for the whole breeding aspect of procreation, but this delightful creature“ - He thrust his thumb over at Devyn who had placed another big bite of macaroni and cheese in her mouth – “refused after with one look at me.  I know that I am ridiculously good looking, so obviously it’s not me.  And the sad part of the matter is, even if she offered to sleep with me right now, I’d probably refuse because now I actually
know
her.”

“God, you’re such a pig,” Devyn said through chewing before swallowing the remnants of pasta with a swig of milk.

“He is a man, sweetie,” Rachel pointed out, as though it was obvious.

“Hey,” Hugh said, frowning, taking offense to Rachel’s generalized statement.  “I’m a man too, but you seem to enjoy my company.”

“But you’re my man,” Rachel said.  “There’s a major difference.”

Somehow, Gerard and Devyn suddenly happened upon the same wave length and glanced at each other from the corner of their eyes, the same look reflected on both of their faces, before looking back at the couple in front of them.

“Wait a minute,” Gerard said, furrowing his brow.

“Are you guys actually together?” Devyn asked, finishing Gerard’s train of thought.  “Like a couple?  Like more than just a breeding partner?” 

“How is that so surprising?” Rachel asked before taking a sip of her water, looking between the two.

“Yeah,” Hugh agreed, wrapping his arm around Rachel’s waist but keeping his gaze on Gerard and Devyn.  “You do know that sex releases dopamine and other chemicals that cause a person to attach to their partner.  Actually, if you
don’t
want to fall in love with a particular person, never have sex with them.  It’s not just the emotional game, but chemical reactions too.”

“And how do you know all that?” Devyn asked with a skeptical brow.

“Uh, it’s common sense,” Hugh said.  “Plus, I like to read after…”  He glanced over at Rachel, a smirk touching his face before returning his gaze at the dumbfounded couple in front of them.

“Really,” Gerard said.

“Don’t want to know,” Devyn finished.

“Well, you’re loss,” Rachel said, shrugging as though the entire situation was indifferent to her.  “The benefits of actually being with your breeding partner more than sexually far outweigh everything else.”

“Oh?” Gerard asked.  “And what if you’re the cause of his death?”

“What?” Devyn asked sharply, turning so she could raise a brow at his logic.  “What are you talking about?”

“We’re fighting for our freedom, you’re in trouble, he goes to rescue you but ends up getting killed,” Gerard said, surprised that no one had thought about this but him.  “Love connections are a distraction.  Instead of focusing on the mission, your focus will be on that other person and you’ll lose sight of everything.”

“I think that’s bullshit,” Rachel said in an uncharacteristic firm tone.

“I know it sounds corny, but if Rachel wasn’t freed, I wouldn’t want to be either,” Hugh said, looking over at Rachel with his blue eyes and a small smile on his face.

Gerard stifled a groan, needing to find some means of distraction from this silly romance and corny lines.  “At least she eats right,” Gerard said, finding his own distraction in the woman next to him.  “You should probably cut down on the carbs, Devyn, lest you want to get fat.”

Devyn knew she should have been offended, but she rolled her eyes instead.  “You would know,” she muttered under her breath.

Though Gerard tried to stop it, a smile touched his face, and he shook his head at the ridiculousness of it all.  When they shipped him here from Scotland, he was simply expecting to do what was asked of him, do what needed to be done in order to get out, and then get out and start some form of life.  He never expected to make friends, though he wasn’t exactly sure if friendship was what he had with Devyn.  Surprisingly, enough, he found that he rather enjoyed these friendships, and they just inspired him to work harder not only to ensure his own freedom, but theirs as well.

“Rachel’s right, you know,” he said between chewing a rather big bite of the food he just placed in his mouth.  Devyn gave him a disgusted look, but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.  “I really don’t know how I’m supposed to resist your charm.”

“Ugh,” she said, turning her head so she wouldn’t have to look anymore.  “Likewise.”

Gerard swallowed and was about to say something when a sight he caught from the corner of his eye stopped him.  It was a Whitecoat, a scientist and sometimes lackey to the people in charge.  If they weren’t experimenting on something or someone, they were running errands and doing menial tasks the bigwigs wanted them to do.  However, it would seem that this particular Whitecoat was heading directly for their table.  Gerard felt his body tense, but tried to keep his face neutral.  If anybody tried anything with Devyn, he wanted to be prepared.

Devyn saw the Whitecoat at the last minute, just as he reached their table.  He only seemed to have eyes for her, and though she would never admit it, she was grateful she had friends surrounding her.  Her mind flitted back to everything that had happened the past few days, but she didn’t remember doing anything wrong that deserved a punishment.  Because, truth be told, she really didn’t want to have to endure another whipping if she could avoid it.

“113089,” the curt voice said, coming from the Whitecoat.  Devyn cocked her head and looked at him expectantly, but like she did with Gerard, she didn’t say anything in return. Instead, she waited him out, hoping she wouldn’t give anything away.  Though, she really had no idea what she might give away in the first place.  “You have a visitor,” the Whitecoat continued.  He turned so now he was looking at Gerard.  “Your procreation services will not be needed today, 111369.”  He turned back to Devyn expectantly, but said nothing, waiting for her to leave on her own accord.

In another moment, Devyn had stood up and followed the man, disappearing out the door.  Gerard watched her go with an enigmatic look on his face.  How could she possibly have a visitor when nobody even knew that she was here?  She didn’t know anyone in the outside world, which could only mean someone knew about her and wanted to see her.

What Gerard didn’t know was who this person was.

This was just more proof that Devyn was more human than not; she had a strong sense of intuition, and right now, something felt very wrong.  Given the fact that she didn’t know anyone besides the members of her Unit as well as the Superiors in some form or another, there was no way she could attract a visitor.  What would anyone want with her anyways?  Surely it wasn’t a member of the outside world not affiliated with the International Genealogy Laboratory.  Devyn shook her head, unwilling to think more on it.  Whatever her guess would be, she had a feeling it would be wrong either way, and instead, focused more on how to prepare herself for whomever this person was.

The Whitecoat led her to an office-like room, a room Devyn had never been to before in all her twenty-three years of being alive.  Sarah was standing next to a mahogany desk, and there was a man – a man unfamiliar to her but obviously important in some way – sitting behind the desk and looking at Devyn with a look Devyn had never seen before.  It was rather beastly, hungry, but Devyn had no idea just what the man was hungry for.  Was this her visitor?  She didn’t know him…

With a curt nod, the Whitecoat disappeared out the door and Sarah walked around the desk to lock it, ensuring there would be no disturbances.  When she turned, her eyes skimmed over Devyn’s back, taking in her attire, hiding a smirk.  Devyn was in the usual clothes – a grey wife beater and black, white, and grey camouflaged cargo pants with black combat boots on her feet.  Her hair was down when it really should have been pulled up, but one glance at the man behind the desk showed that he didn’t exactly mind.  Sarah fixated her eyes on the two guards that came to stand on either side of the door in case Devyn tried anything, attempted an escape, or needed to be restrained.  Devyn didn’t even see them.

“113089,” Sarah said in her usual crisp voice, walking back around Devyn so that she was adjacent to the desk once again.  Though the man had yet to speak, his eyes were fixed solely on Devyn to the point where she was becoming uncomfortable under the intensity of it.  “I’m sure you’re wondering just why it is you’re here.”  She gestured gracefully at the man.  “This is Stewart Hall, the Director and the reason why you’re here, alive.”  Devyn tried to mask her surprise, and she succeeded only slightly.  “He is the mastermind behind this particular reality show.”  Sarah took a step back in order to give Stewart Hall, the Director, the floor.  “He wanted to see you personally,” she added.

Devyn immediately grew suspicious.  Why would the Director want to see her when there were plenty of other people he could meet?  Maybe he was getting an idea of who everyone in a particular Unit was.  Maybe Rachel would be next.  Or maybe that was what Devyn wanted to think.

The Director stood up and Devyn’s trained eyes immediately took him in.  He was tall, probably an inch or two past six foot.  His black hair was pushed out of his face, every lock perfectly in place.  He had sharp, blue eyes and a square-shape, clean shaven face.  His lips were curled into a semi-smile, revealing straight white teeth and dimple in his left cheek.  Devyn wasn’t familiar with brand name clothing, but the pinstriped suit he was wearing looked expensive, and despite the fact that he was probably in his forties, he seemed to be in good shape.

“Your picture does not do you justice, 113089,” he said in a smooth, low voice as he walked around his desk in order to stand in front of it and closer to Devyn.

Devyn narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her body tensing, preparing for something she didn’t understand just yet.  “My name is Devyn,” she told him, her tone curt, absolutely hating being addressed by a series of numbers.

“No,” Stewart said, shaking his head.  Even then, not a lock fell out of place.  He had obviously invested in strong-hold gel.  “No, your name is gorgeous.”  It took everything in Devyn to refrain from rolling her eyes at his attempt at some kind of pickup line.  Did he think he was being flattering?  Was this some kind of attempt to…  Devyn couldn’t even finish the sentence.  She didn’t understand her predicament whatsoever.  “You know,” he continued, leaning in just a little too close for Devyn’s taste.  “I really do hope you make it when you engage in your mission.  I wouldn’t want anything to happen to your pretty face…”  He let his voice trail off, and then, without warning, reached up and traced the edge of her jaw line with the pad of his index finger.

Before Devyn could stop herself, her natural instincts took over, and she coiled her long fingers into a fist and socked the Director in the face.  Because she was stronger than most women, Stewart stumbled back a bit, but regained his balance.  Immediately, the two guards stepped forward and grabbed either arm, restraining her.  Devyn didn’t care; his nose was bleeding, and that made everything worth it.

The Director looked at her with a wild sparkle in his blue eyes, and he took another step forward.  Devyn swallowed, but wasn’t exactly afraid.  If she needed to, it would be easy to knock out the men holding onto her, and defending herself against the Director would be easy as long as he didn’t call in any backup.  He leaned in real close to her, making sure he maintained eye contact with her, before saying through gritted teeth, “I have more money than God, sugar.  I could fucking
buy
you if I wanted.”

Devyn scrunched her nose, hoping the blood dripping from his nose wouldn’t seep into her skin.  She didn’t need that.  “I’m not a doll,” she told him, her voice tight.

Stewart reached out and placed a hand over her breast before squeezing it.  “You sure look like one,” he taunted, his smirk now dark and delighted.  “And you feel like one.”

This time, Devyn actually did think about what happened next, but pursued it despite the obvious consequences.  She kneed him in his groin as hard as she could.  The Director let out a grunt of pain and dropped down, water accumulating in his eyes.  Devyn pressed her lips together to keep from smiling, but her resolve at completing that task wasn’t exactly firm.

Surprisingly enough, Stewart managed to pull himself together, and though it hurt like nothing else, stood up and slapped Devyn across her face so hard her lip split open.  Stinging pain erupted in Devyn’s face, and she knew that this was her fault.  She had gotten cocky, and had underestimated the Director.  Never again, she promised.

“You belong to me, girl,” he snapped, his face centimeters away from hers.  “I’ll touch you wherever I want.”  With that, Stewart nodded at the two guards, and they nodded back before leading Devyn out of the room and throwing her out of their grasp.

Devyn managed to catch herself before falling, but her body was seething with fury that she desperately needed to get out of her system.  Luckily, she believed training was still going on, and as a result, she could take out her anger on Rachel, or even Gerard if he was willing.  She just needed to let loose in order to not think about it, to think about everything that had happened to her.  Thankfully, she had fought back.  In that way, he underestimated her in return.  But she probably wouldn’t have that advantage again.

Luckily for her, Gerard, Hugh, and Rachel were in the usual training place, so she didn’t have to go out of her way to find anyone.  At that moment, she decided she wanted to fight with Rachel.  She knew Gerard would be asking questions and she didn’t want to deal with it because she didn’t have any answers.

The three stopped what they were doing when they saw Devyn approach, and Rachel knew her friend well enough to keep silent.  Whatever was on Devyn’s mind, she would share when she was ready, and right now, she definitely wasn’t ready.  However, Gerard didn’t know Devyn as well as Rachel, but even if he had, he still would have prodded, especially when he noticed her lip was bleeding and her body was tense.  Who, exactly, was the visitor that had wanted to see Devyn, and why the fuck was her lip bleeding?  It was almost as though somebody had slapped her…  But she hadn’t done anything wrong.  Or at least Gerard couldn’t remember that happening…

So he did what anyone else would do in his position.  Gerard decided to ask.  “What happened to you?”  And though he had tried, his voice came out a bit more demanding than he intended it to.

Devyn flashed her eyes over at Gerard.  “I don’t want to talk about it,” she told him, and though her voice was soft, it was firm. 

The fact that Devyn hadn’t gotten defensive due to Gerard’s tone was how Gerard knew something was wrong, whether Devyn wanted to talk about it or not.  He watched her walk away.