“Are these really necessary?” I asked Eric as he stood next to me outside of Council Chambers. A shiny pair of handcuffs rested snugly around my wrists. After Maverick’s stunt, he swore I let him out on purpose. Eric was trying to do everything in his power to take over my work, but the only problem with that was … he didn’t know where to begin. I was the only one who knew the base ingredients to the serum and there was nothing anyone could say or do to make me give that up.

Eric nestled his head against my shoulder, inhaling deeply the scent around my neck, and smiling a smile only creeps would encourage.

“I think you look wonderful in a pair of handcuffs. But there might be something I can do for you. I can say that the specimen overtook you and you would never let him go willingly because you and I, well, we’re a pair, an item. You would never betray the love of your life. So you see they’ll believe you even more when you explain you didn’t let him out of the room on purpose.”

I shrugged Eric off of me, aggressively, my face curled with disgust, “I don’t want or need your help. Now get off of me. I’d rather die in these cuffs than have you or anyone else thinking that we do things together, as an item, with them on.”

“Fine,” he sighed, “Suit yourself.”

He pushed the doors open, leaving me outside, but just before they closed he mumbled to himself, “I hope they scorch this bitch.”

Shaw poked his head out, “The Council will see you now.”

He didn’t look anywhere nearly as happy as Eric. His expression read more like he was annoyed.

There was a long metal conference table in front of the room. Across from it, a few feet in front of me was a lonely desk with a single chair. I sat down in it. At the table, Eric was at the end with that stupid look on his face. Next to him was a woman who looked like she could bench press Eric. I’d seen her around, but we never spoke. Now that I think of it, I didn’t really speak to anyone here.

Shaw sat down next to the woman. Natalie, I think her name was. He whispered something in her ear. She eyed Eric through the corner of her eyes. She looked just as disgusted with him as I was. Next to Shaw were three large monitors where the heads of three other Stations glared at me with disappointment. I’d never been in front of them in a disciplinary fashion. I’d only been in this room to give updates on my research and the last update had been months ago.

Natalie rose to her feet and cleared her throat, “We the Council are gathered here to determine the proper procedure on how to move forward as we question the loyalty of Dr. Addison Marshal.”

“There is no question in my loyalties!” I shouted to her. That was true. My loyalties lie with me and my quest.

“Silence!” Eric interrupted, “She’s let the specimen contaminate her thinking and the lab! If you review the security footage you can see -”

“Enough!” Natalie shouted to him. “Dr. Marshal, please explain this.”

She pushed a button on a remote I didn’t even know she had. On the wall, in front of everyone to see, the security tape played off of a projector. There wasn’t any sound. I saw myself walk into the lab with my head buried in my notes. I saw myself get startled when Maverick spoke to me. I saw the frustration grow as he lured me into that confrontation of words which led to the most supple kiss I’ve ever received.

“The specimen and I engaged in a disagreement about the collection of specimens and use of the serum on those who did not want to be saved of their scales. He goaded me into approaching the bars to the point where he grabbed me and forced his mouth onto mine. I had to do something as I didn’t have any kind of weapon to pry him off of me so I released the bars.”

“And what happened after he pulled you into the room? And are there any updates as to why there aren’t any cameras inside the chambers? Why aren’t we watching the specimens in every aspect of their captivity here?”

“Because up until now,” I rolled my eyes, “All of our specimens have been here voluntarily. I would have honest discussions with them and track their results. Forgive me that proper security protocols weren’t put in place because we’ve never had to keep any of them here against their will.”

“So if you weren’t abreast of proper security protocols, then why are their bars to begin with?!” Eric spewed out.

I deliberately addressed Natalie. She was the one in charge, “The bars are there to keep their fiery side contained while we run tests on how the serum works. It’s to protect me, not to lock them in.”

“Well I think we need to evaluate that,” one of the faces in the screen announced.

“I just want to know what we’re going to do about our escapee?” Shaw asked.

“Nothing,” I told them, “He only did what instincts would have told any of us to do in the situation. I told him he couldn’t leave and thankfully enough, Shaw stepped in to stop him from getting any further than he did. If you try to punish him, you’re only going to make my work that much more difficult.”

“No!” Eric interrupted once again, “What makes your work that much more difficult is the fact that you haven’t divulged every aspect and ingredient of the serum! You need to turn over all documentation to me so that I may take over testing and chem work.”

“Never going to happen,” I hissed. “Besides, having the formula isn’t enough. The nuances of testing it on a variety of different breeds -”

Eric cut me off, jumping up from his seat, “You see how complacent she is to the threat of a Scaler in our midst?!”

“BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT HIM HERE!” I argued back, “I never asked for another specimen. I never asked for you guys to take my work and weaponize it! I’m complacent because you get more bees with honey than you do with shit! I’m not going to treat him differently than any other subject that’s been worked on in my lab because I need him compliant! I can’t keep him sedated because it will skew the results of my tests. You just don’t understand.”

“I understand perfectly,” Eric sneered, “You’re in love with the freaks. You probably want to go back to being a pet.”

My eyes shot up from the table, locking onto him with fury. How did he know that? Then I remembered. In our early days together, when we were friendly, the little bit of information I divulged was my stint as a pet. I didn’t give him any details beyond that. It was only to show him we shared a common history. He’d been a pet too. However, he slit the throat of the Scaler who possessed him.

“That's it, isn’t it? You miss being one of their playthings?” he snarled with disgust. The switch was remarkable. I was almost certain that I’d rejected him one time too many, and now in front of our peers, he was furious. I didn’t want his help.

“If this is what you called me in here for, to have this subpar version of an Anthro man degrade me simply because I refuse to speak with him with the same amount of respect I give animals on the cliffs, then I do ask we end this now. Throw me in a dungeon, hell, I’ll even take Shaw throwing me off the cliff rather than to sit here and be subjected to his bruised ego. I just want to know what comes next and how it will affect my work.”

I watched them put their heads together with the other faces on the screen. They purposely excluded Eric, which made him sulk. He didn’t lash out at them like he did with me, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to know my fate.

After a few minutes, they ended their discussion and faced me. The three heads of the other Stations disappeared leaving me with Shaw and the Tough Lady. Eric stood there like a toddler ready to throw a tantrum. His arms folded across his chest and he tapped his foot incessantly against the desk.

“We’ve made the decision,” Natalie spoke, “Shaw is going to reinforce one of the rooms to keep our new specimen contained. You and Eric will continue your work, but seeing how you two don’t exactly get along, you’ll work in split shifts. You will continue your work as scheduled, Dr. Marshal. You will then allow your results to be used by our Station in any way we see fit to protect our position and advance our efforts in strategic military tactics to ensure our progress. This is not up for debate, nor is it up for discussion. Be as nice to your specimens as you want but know and accept that when all is said and done, they will NEVER leave The Rock. Am I understood, Dr. Marshal?”

With a heavy heart, I could barely look her in the eyes.

“Addison!” Shaw slammed his hand on the desk.

Natalie repeated her question, “Do we have an understanding, Addison?”

“Yeah,” I sighed. I couldn’t say or do anything else but agree. I didn’t want to be locked away or anything. I needed to finish my work, but the most important thing for me to do was get back to Maverick. We had work to do.