Life's Cruel Verity? - Cindy Sees All: Part 2
My name is Jill Tiny
chapter 33
by
copier
· original author:
dr.manhattan
"How can I say no after a story like that?", Cindy asked, eyes still widened in amazement.
Sylvan smirked up at the gargantuan blond, "I was sorta hoping you couldn't".
"Alright, you're in", Cindy invited after a moment's hesitation, adding sourly, "And you're just in time to fail with me. I don't know what else to do".
"Failing, huh? Sounds fun", the insignificant boy mused playfully, "Hold on a minute. Just let me forget all the information my cut-out has been telling me, then I'll be ready to fail with you".
"Information?! About what?", Cindy asked eagerly.
The tiny teen shook his head, "Too late. Already forgotten".
Cindy looked down at her puny friend with a tired, begging countenance.
"Fine", Sylvan gave in, "I'll tell you on the way. You know, that's a pretty solid interrogation tactic you've got there. I'm not sure if it's legal, though".
"On the way?", Cindy questioned, "Where are we going?".
"Away from failure", Sylvan stated matter of factly.
------------------------------------------------
Sylvan stood amongst the thin creases of Cindy's open left palm, held a tad below level with her petite jawline, directing the giantess through the various intersections of dull gray monotony. The gentle vibrations of Cindy's steps penetrated the thin rubber soles of his sneakers, the resultant shivers shooting up his spine barely beating the echoing thuds of the footfalls to his ears. Occasionally, the little one would take a couple steps, enjoying the sinking sensation of his feet indenting into cozy flesh.
"So Kurtzie has been working on this Project: Hunter thing for months?", Cindy sought confirmation.
"Make a left here", Sylvan ordered with his back to giant girl, "And it's called The Hunter Program".
"Sorry", Cindy didn't sound too apologetic.
Don't apologize to me", Sylvan turned to face his carrier, "Apologize to Hunter".
A mildly annoyed look washed over Cindy's well defined facial features. Her pouty lips formed themselves into an O-shape, and a delicate gust of warm breath tickled their inner edges as it swooped down upon the unsuspecting boy. His footing quickly uprooted itself as his body tilted, then collapsed with the gentle momentum of the comforting wind. He rolled to the base of Cindy's united fingers, his body coming to rest in the crack separating them from her palm. Resisting the urge to cuddle his cheek with the phalange serving as the anchor of Cindy's pinky finger, Sylvan pushed his hands against the ductile surface and jumped back to his feet.
"Enough with the bad jokes, already", Cindy scolded lightheartedly, wagging the forefinger of her right hand inches away from Sylvan's face.
"Okay, I get it", Sylvan conceded defeat, but jabbed back, "You forget to brush your teeth this morning?".
A quick gasp escaped Cindy's mouth, her right hand cutting silent exclamation even shorter as it slammed across her mouth. Her cheeks turned bright red in embarrassment.
"Jeez Cindy, I was kidding", Sylvan's tone carried a remorseful quality, "You really shouldn't-".
Cindy removed her hand from her mouth, "I really shouldn't what?".
"We're here", Sylvan announced, staring down where the floor merges with the left wall of the corridor.
Cindy followed Sylvans line of sight, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Then, her head tilted at just the right angle, and her eyes caught a tiny glare reflecting the florescent lighting from overhead. As she shifted her neck slightly, the refraction moved across a short, transparent strip. She knelt down to inspect this inconsistency closer, and sloped her hand onto the floor. Sylvan slid across the breast of Cindys palm and down the length of her fingers, his teeny denim-clad buttocks teasing her soft skin with mild irritation. His feet hit the ground running. As she squinted, Cindy noticed a small patch of an almost indistinguishably different shad of gray captured within the invisible ribbon. Sylvan reached one end of the tape, and began to pull at it.
Such a pain in the ass, he mumbled in frustration.
Three of Cindys lengthy digits descended onto the scene, pinching their padded prints on either side of the freed edge of tape. With at slight retraction of her mighty wrist, she ripped the sticky layer from the wall. She dropped the prize to Sylvan, who caught it with waiting arms.
Well that didnt seem so bad, Cindy taunted innocently.
Sylvan had no response. Instead, all of his attention was drawn to the piece of paper trapped in the tape.
Cindy had to ask the obvious question, Whats that?.
My source, Sylvan replied, not bothering to raise his face from the document, This hallway is the dead drop my cut-out and me share. We lucked out that something was here today.
Dead drop, Cindy repeated, Thats a place where spies leave and pick up information and stuff without ever meeting, right?.
It looks like someone paid attention in class, Sylvan said with mock impressiveness, And the cut-outs are the ones who do the dropping and collecting. Ah! This is interesting, so listen up.
The Hunter Program seems to be picking up steam. We need to find out more about it, and fast. Follow the birdy to down the right trail, and figure out a way to get inside from there. Work fast, and be careful, sweety. Oh, and bring your little friend along. She might be useful. Good luck, and try not to get smushed.
"Sweety?", Cindy queried.
"Yeah, she's always typing stuff like that", Sylvan responded, "At least I hope it's a she".
An awkward expression wrote itself on Cindy's face, but the sound of someone approaching forced her to shrug it off. Luckily, the balding man was traveling the other path of the nearby intersection, and didn't even bother to look at the two young snoopers as he walked past them.
"Hm, Tesla's here again", Sylvan thought aloud, "Why is a science teacher coming to Behavioral so much?".
"Tesla?", Cindy recalled the name from memory, "My friend Jackie has him for physics class, or something. She calls him old avocet".
Sylvan looked puzzled, "Avocet?"
"You know, like the bird".
The pair gazed at each other blankly as the realization sets in. Without a word, Cindy scooped Sylvan in her hand, and peaked around the corner in the direction Tesla had set off. The tail of his white lab coat could just be scene rounding another turn. Cindy hastily, yet quietly pursued Tesla, coming to two more intersections in the process. Tesla stopped at a piece of wall which stood between two armed guards. One of the two sentries slipped a card into an ID slot, and Tesla entered the heavily guarded area.
"Why are there guards?", Cindy asked, "With these ID cards, they should be able to control access to restricted areas without them".
"Well, they do have some of the smartest people in the world working here", Sylvan retorted, "I'm sure at least one person has found a way around those cards".
"How are we going to get in?", Cindy continued her barrage of questions.
"Why, through the door of course", a cockiness posed itself in the brown haired boy's voice.
Cindy looked at him like he was crazy, "So, what, we're just going to walk up to the door and hope they'll let us through?".
"Don't be silly", Sylvan countered, "I'll have to change, first".
--------------------------------------------------
The squirming feeling emanating from within the grasp of her right hand sickened Cindy. The cotton fabric of the toga the boy in her swinging fist wore caused her palm to perspire. She was unable to tell whether the groaning and moaning leaving Sylvan's larynx was real or improvised. It didn't matter, though. Sylvan had been clear in his instruction; this had to look real, and there was no turning back now. Cindy made deliberate paces toward the overdressed doormen, putting her best effort into the scowl on her face.
"Got another one for The Hunter Program", Cindy spoke to one of the guards as she presented Sylvan as one would a toy.
"Another one?", the rough looking figure remarked, "Business must be picking up, huh? Alright, go on through".
Cindy casually strode through the freshly opened entryway. As soon as the door closed behind her, she released her death grip on Sylvan. He laid in her open hand, rubbing his sore sides.
"You okay?", Cindy worried, "That wasn't too tight, was it?".
"It was perfect", Sylvan popped back to his feet, "No time to worry about it now anyway. Let's have a look around".
Cindy carried Sylvan down a short domed tunnel. They exited the pathway and entered an unimpressive looking laboratory. The lab tables laid bare, save for a couple at the center of the room holding some unknown apparatuses, and mostly vacant Plexiglas cages lined the walls. Tesla was removing one of the three remaining "guests" from her cage when Cindy caught sight of him. She ducked behind a table at the far end of the lab. And not a moment too soon, either. Major Kurtz marched onto the scene from seemingly nowhere, moving to confront the science teacher.
"This is taking way too long", Kurtz complained without emotion, "You need to work faster".
"That wouldn't be a problem if you'd let me use the real laboratory", Tesla grunted a reply, "Or if you gave me real scientists to work with, instead of these Behavioral nutjobs".
"You're supposed to be the best of the best", Kurtz began to show her frustration, "I won't accept anymore of your excuses".
"Actually, Director Keeper knows much more than I", Tesla spoke snidely, "Shall I call her in for assistance?".
Kurtz had no answer. She could only stare at her shiny boots.
"As I thought", Tesla seemed satisfied with himself.
Kurtz returned her glare to Tesla, "Just let me see what you've done so far".
Tesla nodded, setting the seven-inch girl he had taken from the cage onto the desk. She had short raven hair, and yellowish skin. Tesla motioned something to the major with his hand.
"Come over here", Kurtz ordered the diminutive asian.
Almost in daze-like steps, the little woman, probably in her late teens, complied.
"That's good", Kurtz addressed Tesla, then returned her focus to the girl, "Raise your right arm".
The girl did nothing.
"I said, raise your right arm!".
No response.
Kurtz snatched the tiny subject violently from the table. The girl made no sound. It wasn't until the first crack filled the air that Cindy realized Kurtz was tightening her grip. Though her face began to cringe and warp, the nameless woman did not cry out. A few more crackles, and Cindy could watch no more. Eventually, the painful noises stopped, and the combination of a thud and ruffling plastic took their place.
"Mindless drones do me no good", Kurtz stated angrily, "God, if we can't even get this to work on the tinies...".
"We will", Tesla assured, "Just give me a little more time".
"You know I don't have a choice".
And just like that, the room emptied. Cautiously, Cindy peaked over the desk and confirmed this. With Sylvan in hand, she strolled carefully to the table where the horror had just taken place. She looked all over for a wounded body, checking under apparatuses and such, but to no avail.
Then she looked in the trashcan.
There, atop leftover Mexican food, laid the body. Her slanted azure eyes remained open, as though she didn't know of her own demise. The tilt of her head against a cracked tortilla shell left her mouth hanging open as well. Tiny limbs sprawled away from her body in random still life positions. Bright red salsa splashed all over the little one's right leg and whole abdomen, contradicting her white toga. Cindy's eyes began to well with tears. She had never seen a dead body. Not like this; not discarded like yesterday's garbage.
"We have to save the other ones", Cindy's voice was shaky.
"No, Cindy", Sylvan coldly denied, "We can't".
"But...".
"I know how you feel, believe me", Sylvan explained, "But if we take them, Kurtz and Tesla will get suspicious. They'll move things along faster. More tinies will die".
Cindy lowered her head and started to sob, "Y-you're right".
"I know", the boy's tone turned to a consoling one, "Now put your game face on. We still have to get out of here".
Cindy wiped the tears from her cheeks, and checked her emotions. She slid Sylvan into her pocket and headed back for the tunnel. With one last look back, Cindy mouthed I'm sorry to the tinies still trapped. The prisoners took no notice, staring blankly into nothingness. Cindy sucked in a last deep breath, and walked out of the lab.
Sylvan smirked up at the gargantuan blond, "I was sorta hoping you couldn't".
"Alright, you're in", Cindy invited after a moment's hesitation, adding sourly, "And you're just in time to fail with me. I don't know what else to do".
"Failing, huh? Sounds fun", the insignificant boy mused playfully, "Hold on a minute. Just let me forget all the information my cut-out has been telling me, then I'll be ready to fail with you".
"Information?! About what?", Cindy asked eagerly.
The tiny teen shook his head, "Too late. Already forgotten".
Cindy looked down at her puny friend with a tired, begging countenance.
"Fine", Sylvan gave in, "I'll tell you on the way. You know, that's a pretty solid interrogation tactic you've got there. I'm not sure if it's legal, though".
"On the way?", Cindy questioned, "Where are we going?".
"Away from failure", Sylvan stated matter of factly.
------------------------------------------------
Sylvan stood amongst the thin creases of Cindy's open left palm, held a tad below level with her petite jawline, directing the giantess through the various intersections of dull gray monotony. The gentle vibrations of Cindy's steps penetrated the thin rubber soles of his sneakers, the resultant shivers shooting up his spine barely beating the echoing thuds of the footfalls to his ears. Occasionally, the little one would take a couple steps, enjoying the sinking sensation of his feet indenting into cozy flesh.
"So Kurtzie has been working on this Project: Hunter thing for months?", Cindy sought confirmation.
"Make a left here", Sylvan ordered with his back to giant girl, "And it's called The Hunter Program".
"Sorry", Cindy didn't sound too apologetic.
Don't apologize to me", Sylvan turned to face his carrier, "Apologize to Hunter".
A mildly annoyed look washed over Cindy's well defined facial features. Her pouty lips formed themselves into an O-shape, and a delicate gust of warm breath tickled their inner edges as it swooped down upon the unsuspecting boy. His footing quickly uprooted itself as his body tilted, then collapsed with the gentle momentum of the comforting wind. He rolled to the base of Cindy's united fingers, his body coming to rest in the crack separating them from her palm. Resisting the urge to cuddle his cheek with the phalange serving as the anchor of Cindy's pinky finger, Sylvan pushed his hands against the ductile surface and jumped back to his feet.
"Enough with the bad jokes, already", Cindy scolded lightheartedly, wagging the forefinger of her right hand inches away from Sylvan's face.
"Okay, I get it", Sylvan conceded defeat, but jabbed back, "You forget to brush your teeth this morning?".
A quick gasp escaped Cindy's mouth, her right hand cutting silent exclamation even shorter as it slammed across her mouth. Her cheeks turned bright red in embarrassment.
"Jeez Cindy, I was kidding", Sylvan's tone carried a remorseful quality, "You really shouldn't-".
Cindy removed her hand from her mouth, "I really shouldn't what?".
"We're here", Sylvan announced, staring down where the floor merges with the left wall of the corridor.
Cindy followed Sylvans line of sight, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Then, her head tilted at just the right angle, and her eyes caught a tiny glare reflecting the florescent lighting from overhead. As she shifted her neck slightly, the refraction moved across a short, transparent strip. She knelt down to inspect this inconsistency closer, and sloped her hand onto the floor. Sylvan slid across the breast of Cindys palm and down the length of her fingers, his teeny denim-clad buttocks teasing her soft skin with mild irritation. His feet hit the ground running. As she squinted, Cindy noticed a small patch of an almost indistinguishably different shad of gray captured within the invisible ribbon. Sylvan reached one end of the tape, and began to pull at it.
Such a pain in the ass, he mumbled in frustration.
Three of Cindys lengthy digits descended onto the scene, pinching their padded prints on either side of the freed edge of tape. With at slight retraction of her mighty wrist, she ripped the sticky layer from the wall. She dropped the prize to Sylvan, who caught it with waiting arms.
Well that didnt seem so bad, Cindy taunted innocently.
Sylvan had no response. Instead, all of his attention was drawn to the piece of paper trapped in the tape.
Cindy had to ask the obvious question, Whats that?.
My source, Sylvan replied, not bothering to raise his face from the document, This hallway is the dead drop my cut-out and me share. We lucked out that something was here today.
Dead drop, Cindy repeated, Thats a place where spies leave and pick up information and stuff without ever meeting, right?.
It looks like someone paid attention in class, Sylvan said with mock impressiveness, And the cut-outs are the ones who do the dropping and collecting. Ah! This is interesting, so listen up.
The Hunter Program seems to be picking up steam. We need to find out more about it, and fast. Follow the birdy to down the right trail, and figure out a way to get inside from there. Work fast, and be careful, sweety. Oh, and bring your little friend along. She might be useful. Good luck, and try not to get smushed.
"Sweety?", Cindy queried.
"Yeah, she's always typing stuff like that", Sylvan responded, "At least I hope it's a she".
An awkward expression wrote itself on Cindy's face, but the sound of someone approaching forced her to shrug it off. Luckily, the balding man was traveling the other path of the nearby intersection, and didn't even bother to look at the two young snoopers as he walked past them.
"Hm, Tesla's here again", Sylvan thought aloud, "Why is a science teacher coming to Behavioral so much?".
"Tesla?", Cindy recalled the name from memory, "My friend Jackie has him for physics class, or something. She calls him old avocet".
Sylvan looked puzzled, "Avocet?"
"You know, like the bird".
The pair gazed at each other blankly as the realization sets in. Without a word, Cindy scooped Sylvan in her hand, and peaked around the corner in the direction Tesla had set off. The tail of his white lab coat could just be scene rounding another turn. Cindy hastily, yet quietly pursued Tesla, coming to two more intersections in the process. Tesla stopped at a piece of wall which stood between two armed guards. One of the two sentries slipped a card into an ID slot, and Tesla entered the heavily guarded area.
"Why are there guards?", Cindy asked, "With these ID cards, they should be able to control access to restricted areas without them".
"Well, they do have some of the smartest people in the world working here", Sylvan retorted, "I'm sure at least one person has found a way around those cards".
"How are we going to get in?", Cindy continued her barrage of questions.
"Why, through the door of course", a cockiness posed itself in the brown haired boy's voice.
Cindy looked at him like he was crazy, "So, what, we're just going to walk up to the door and hope they'll let us through?".
"Don't be silly", Sylvan countered, "I'll have to change, first".
--------------------------------------------------
The squirming feeling emanating from within the grasp of her right hand sickened Cindy. The cotton fabric of the toga the boy in her swinging fist wore caused her palm to perspire. She was unable to tell whether the groaning and moaning leaving Sylvan's larynx was real or improvised. It didn't matter, though. Sylvan had been clear in his instruction; this had to look real, and there was no turning back now. Cindy made deliberate paces toward the overdressed doormen, putting her best effort into the scowl on her face.
"Got another one for The Hunter Program", Cindy spoke to one of the guards as she presented Sylvan as one would a toy.
"Another one?", the rough looking figure remarked, "Business must be picking up, huh? Alright, go on through".
Cindy casually strode through the freshly opened entryway. As soon as the door closed behind her, she released her death grip on Sylvan. He laid in her open hand, rubbing his sore sides.
"You okay?", Cindy worried, "That wasn't too tight, was it?".
"It was perfect", Sylvan popped back to his feet, "No time to worry about it now anyway. Let's have a look around".
Cindy carried Sylvan down a short domed tunnel. They exited the pathway and entered an unimpressive looking laboratory. The lab tables laid bare, save for a couple at the center of the room holding some unknown apparatuses, and mostly vacant Plexiglas cages lined the walls. Tesla was removing one of the three remaining "guests" from her cage when Cindy caught sight of him. She ducked behind a table at the far end of the lab. And not a moment too soon, either. Major Kurtz marched onto the scene from seemingly nowhere, moving to confront the science teacher.
"This is taking way too long", Kurtz complained without emotion, "You need to work faster".
"That wouldn't be a problem if you'd let me use the real laboratory", Tesla grunted a reply, "Or if you gave me real scientists to work with, instead of these Behavioral nutjobs".
"You're supposed to be the best of the best", Kurtz began to show her frustration, "I won't accept anymore of your excuses".
"Actually, Director Keeper knows much more than I", Tesla spoke snidely, "Shall I call her in for assistance?".
Kurtz had no answer. She could only stare at her shiny boots.
"As I thought", Tesla seemed satisfied with himself.
Kurtz returned her glare to Tesla, "Just let me see what you've done so far".
Tesla nodded, setting the seven-inch girl he had taken from the cage onto the desk. She had short raven hair, and yellowish skin. Tesla motioned something to the major with his hand.
"Come over here", Kurtz ordered the diminutive asian.
Almost in daze-like steps, the little woman, probably in her late teens, complied.
"That's good", Kurtz addressed Tesla, then returned her focus to the girl, "Raise your right arm".
The girl did nothing.
"I said, raise your right arm!".
No response.
Kurtz snatched the tiny subject violently from the table. The girl made no sound. It wasn't until the first crack filled the air that Cindy realized Kurtz was tightening her grip. Though her face began to cringe and warp, the nameless woman did not cry out. A few more crackles, and Cindy could watch no more. Eventually, the painful noises stopped, and the combination of a thud and ruffling plastic took their place.
"Mindless drones do me no good", Kurtz stated angrily, "God, if we can't even get this to work on the tinies...".
"We will", Tesla assured, "Just give me a little more time".
"You know I don't have a choice".
And just like that, the room emptied. Cautiously, Cindy peaked over the desk and confirmed this. With Sylvan in hand, she strolled carefully to the table where the horror had just taken place. She looked all over for a wounded body, checking under apparatuses and such, but to no avail.
Then she looked in the trashcan.
There, atop leftover Mexican food, laid the body. Her slanted azure eyes remained open, as though she didn't know of her own demise. The tilt of her head against a cracked tortilla shell left her mouth hanging open as well. Tiny limbs sprawled away from her body in random still life positions. Bright red salsa splashed all over the little one's right leg and whole abdomen, contradicting her white toga. Cindy's eyes began to well with tears. She had never seen a dead body. Not like this; not discarded like yesterday's garbage.
"We have to save the other ones", Cindy's voice was shaky.
"No, Cindy", Sylvan coldly denied, "We can't".
"But...".
"I know how you feel, believe me", Sylvan explained, "But if we take them, Kurtz and Tesla will get suspicious. They'll move things along faster. More tinies will die".
Cindy lowered her head and started to sob, "Y-you're right".
"I know", the boy's tone turned to a consoling one, "Now put your game face on. We still have to get out of here".
Cindy wiped the tears from her cheeks, and checked her emotions. She slid Sylvan into her pocket and headed back for the tunnel. With one last look back, Cindy mouthed I'm sorry to the tinies still trapped. The prisoners took no notice, staring blankly into nothingness. Cindy sucked in a last deep breath, and walked out of the lab.
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August 15
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