Chapter 16

The GMNs made it back to base in one piece even GMN-6. GMN-1 had jumped after her reaching her in time to activate the parachute hidden on the shoulder of their uniform. The wind had blown them a considerable distance north.

"I didn't know we had that"GMN-6 said when they landed. Both GMN 1 and 4 rolled their eyes. They strapped their bags and prepared to run.

They met up with the others stowed their luggage and boarded the vehicle.

Back at base Doc and Mr. Deccan were there to welcome them

"How was the auction? " Mr. Deccan asked.

"Like shopping without paying " GMN-5 said gesturing to the bags. Mr Deccan surveyed the bags, they were many and full.

"Did you get the chip? " Doc asked

GMN-1 handed over the suitcase contain the chips and documents. Doc opened the suitcase and surveyed its content she nodded happily plastering a wide grin on her face.

"Who took care of Edward? " Mr. Deccan asked. Every GMN pointed at GMN-6 who was busy looking at her souvenir.

"What?" She asked as if she didn't know what they were talking about

"She was even talking to his dead body"GMN-9 accused

"He said I should help him out, I did. He wanted to go to the after life" GMN-6 said with a shrug

"And the bag? " Doc asked. GMN-6 presented it to her. Doc placed it on the nearby table and unzipped it.

"Aaaaah! " Doc said and moved back clutching her heart. GMN-6 grinned, she had a feeling that in another life she would have been delighted to receive a box full of money.

Doc stepped back horrified there was a head in that suitcase. She hadn't been expecting that. When she saw the case, she thought it was something that was looted from Casio. These kids actually packed his head. She turned around shifting from the case. It was when she shifted away that the rest of the GMNs saw the content of the case. Some starred mouth agape even Deccan. The first to recover was GMN-6.

"No way!" She exclaimed.

"Who did that? " Doc said trying to compose herself but her voice was still shaking.

"You said we should get it" GMN-4 said plainly.

"I did not! "Doc shouted before clearing her throat and reducing her voice. "I did not" she said again. GMN-4 was unaffected. He made the slashing gesture around his neck the same way Doc had made it and said.

"Remember? "

"That wasn't what I meant!" Doc's voice was a note higher. She was obviously shaken.

"A misunderstanding " GMN-1 said zipping the case but she left it where it was. It was hard to tell if she was in on this. She didn't show surprise when she saw the content and she didn't act as if she knew about it.

Mr. Deccan cleared his throat and said.

"Well done. Go get some rest. "

GMN 1 and 4 were the first to turn and walk out. It was like they were none communicating partners in crime. GMN-6 approached Doc

"Hey Doc since you don't like your gift can I keep it? "GMN-6 asked. Doc looked at her and she backed off. "You know what Doc, you should keep it. It will look nice on your table" she said and walked away.

Doc was a bit thrown off. Why would GMN-4 gift her with Casio's head. She didn't think it was a misunderstanding. She wanted him dead not to have his head delivered to her. She needed to get rid of the head. No one was to know she was connected to his death. She dragged the suitcase down from the table angrily and walked towards her office.

Doc got to her office and dropped the case on the table. On second thought she opened it. It was a clean cut. She zipped the bag and sat down on her chair putting her palm to her forehead. She had never seen a severed head before so she was quite taking aback. She was used to giving the orders for someone to be eliminated but she was never involved with the process. She sighed. She had to prepare for the sessions and maybe she would find out why she was gifted a dead head. GMN-4 wasn't too slow to misunderstand. She regretted agreeing to Deccan's suggestion to shuffle their session order.

Today's session seemed to grate on her nerves. GMN-5 went first. She talked and talked and what she said was more centered around herself. To Doc, that one was petty and selfish most of the time but she was also loyal especially when it was for a course she was interested in. She may have other nicer attributes but they were shadowed by her vanity, in that aspect Doc could see a similarity between them. GMN-7 went next. If he was a normal teenager, he would have been a ladies man. Charming and arrogant. He was handsome even the weird patches of different skin on his face didn't daunt that. GMN-9 went next. He kept talking about the numerous computer and gadgets that Casio had installed. He also talked about GMN 1 and 4 being too uptight and quiet, nothing she didn't already know. He also talked about how crazy GMN-6 was and it sounded like he admired her a little. Doc pegged him as a nice kid who had nothing in mind. After him GMN-3 was next. GMN-3 didn't say much. Doc pegged him as a Moody individual whose reaction could change based on his mood. Sometimes predictable, sometimes not. GMN-6 came in next. The first thing she did was to say she wanted a gun and that they needed to use weapons because they were cool not that they needed them but she just wanted one. She was a bit pissed that GMN-4 cut off Casio's head without telling her, she would have loved to watch. She talked about how good it was working with everyone. She was selfish but not like GMN-5 but she was way crazy and weird. However, she may be the most loyal and friendly. She was easy going and could be funny. She didn't hoard attention like GMN-5. Doc didn't know why she was comparing them. GMN-2 was another quiet one, a bit reserved. He seemed to think too much before he spoke and had a problem with expression. He portrayed someone who could do anything needed to survive . GMN-1 was next. She entered the room where Doc held her sessions. She sat on the chair instead.

"You don't want to go on the bed? " Doc asked

"No" GMN-1 replied.

Doc wanted to ask why but didn't.

"How was today's mission?"

"Fine"

"Are we going to do the one word answer game again today. " there was no reply. "I need you to talk to me" there was still no reply. Doc sighed. "What do you think of your fellow GMNs? "

GMN-1 raised a brow like why was she asking her that question but said nothing. She just shrugged and propped one leg up on the chair. Doc didn't know how to go about this. She couldn't get any useful information from GMN-1 hadn't been able to. What she wanted to know was why she got a severed head and if she was in on it.

"Do you enjoy working with GMN-4?" Doc asked. GMN-1 gave a non commitment shrug but didn't say anything.

"Why did he... "

"Ask him. Bye Doc" GMN-1 said and left.

GMN-4 was the last. He entered and lay down on the bed, closing his eyes.

"How was the mission? " Doc began.

"Same"

"Why did you give me his head? "

"You asked"

"That was not what I meant and you knew it" Doc said but he did not say anything. After waiting a while he stood and left.

"Are we done? " Doc asked confused

"Yes" he said and was already out the door.