Lance, Mouse and Vulpe
Lance made his way down into the labs and headed straight for the cells. His blue eyes were deep pools of mental and emotional pain as he thought about the girls he was failing. He nodded coldly at one of the attendants who did sweeps through the lab levels at night.
"Up late, Dr. Greene?"
"Burning the midnight oil." He tried to grin. The whitecoated lab assistant smiled back, so he must have succeded. "I'm going to check on our two newest subjects." He searched the young man's eyes for a flicker of compassion and was sickened when he found none.
"So, what are you researching for?"
"Nanotech, mostly."
"Oh, cool. How are you going on that?" They passed conversation for a few more minutes, Lance fighting to keep his disgust and contempt from showing in his eyes. Soon, the assisstant was headed off on his rounds again and Lance was headed to the cells. He smiled slightly as he heard the new inmate, Vulpe, he believed her name was singing in hoarse Italian. Probably something vulgar and more of that up yours attitude she displayed for the cameras. Australians always loved the underdog.
"Good evening, ladies." He stopped in front of Vulpe and Mouse's cells. Vulpe bared her teeth at him.
"Who told you I was a lady? Cos, they were lying through thier teeth, uomo." He chuckled. Mouse managed to rouse herself onto her elbows, mentally and physically exhausted.
"Lance?"
"It's me." He entered her cell and started to tend her fingers and side. He cursed Blakesley in his head.
"It's so cold down here, Lance..."
"I know, kid, I know..." Vulpe watched in confusion.
"Ehi, topa, what the deal?"
"He's good." Mouse's eyes were squeezed shut in pain as even Lance's gentle ministrations hurt her. "Wants out, but doesn't know how. Trapped like a cat in a bag in a river, drowning in cold."
"Pretty good description, mate." Lance looked over at Vulpe. "If I come in there, will you attack me?"
"We can trust him, Vixen. He means well, but he doesn't have enough power to get us out."
"And I damn myself for it." Mouse put her hand on his face, and made him look her in the eyes.
"You didn't buy us. You didn't sell us. You don't want to see us here. You're a good man, trapped by circumstances beyond your control."
"I just wish..."
"I know." Mouse sent him a wave of understanding.
"Don't, Mouse. You'll just use up your energy." Lance lowered her to the ground again and tidied up his equipment. "You'll need every scrap of it."
"Bye, Lance."
"I'll try and come back tomorrow night."
"I won't wait up. You can't take the risk of coming down here three nights in a row."
Lance nodded silently; he knew she was right. Danjermond was suspicious as it was. "I'm sorry, Mouse, Vulpe. If I could..."
"Don' worry bout it, doctore. We be fine, won't we Topa?" Vulpe craned her head so she could see Mouse, and flashed a grin at Lance. "Foxed and mice are survivors. You can't get rid of us."
Lance chuckled slightly as he left Mouse's cell again and locked it behind him. "Good night, you two. And Mouse? Try to rest." He left. Vulpe looked at Mouse.
"He's sweet. Or he could be."
"Yeah." They talked for a bit longer, and then fell asleep.