Chapter 45

"And we're here!" GMN-9 announced. They all looked up from the various things they have been doing. GMN-6 was surprised when there was no more confrontation between 1 and 5 but she could sense the tension especially from 5 who looked most of the time like she was planning a coup. GMN-1 for what she worth was nonchalant as ever and seemed to purposely block everyone one out. The driving had been exchanged between 7 and 2 and she had to admit, 2's driving really improved. GMN-4 looked like he was about to murder the devil himself, radiating warnings like a radioactive. 9 was so uneasy just like she was. 3 and 2 were anxious while 7 was resigned. They all had a feeling that things were going to seriously change after this mission.

"great! I thought we'll never get here!" GMN-5 said and was the first out of the vehicle before anyone could stop her.

"I really hope I make it back alive" GMN-9 murmured to himself as he opened the back. Technically the scenarios were limited but he felt they were about to test that limit. It was some sort of ominous feeling.The rest began to file out of the vehicle.

Gmn-1 was the last to come down. As they grew closer and closer her uneasiness grew. She stepped down and looked at the structure infront of her. It looked every bit like an abandoned warehouse but she had learnt not to judge by appearance. She could pick up a faint smell. It smelt like, apple! She felt like throwing up and it really upset her stomach, no wonder she hated apples. Rather than crawl back into the car like she desperately wanted to do, she squared her shoulders.

"how are we going to do this?" GMN-3 asked

"7 has a blueprint" GMN-1 replied

"seriously!?" GMN-7 asked in disbelief and 1 shrugged. He sighed and brought out the blueprint. GMN-6 starred from 1 to 7. Her curiousity was eating her up, she really wanted to know what they have been up to that GMN-1 knows what he has and what he doesn't have. Thinking again, she was GMN-1, 'knowing' was her area of expertise.

"this is the original blueprint of the structure but I'm sure there has been some serious renovations…" GMN-7 began

"then how is this going to help us?" GMN-5 mockingly asked

"no matter how much a place is renovated the overall structure remains. There are areas that cannot and shouldn't be tampered with and there are areas that cannot be removed or erased just covered up or adjusted. Here! I marked those areas" GMN-7 said showing them.

They mapped out their enterance and possible exits and began to gear up. GMN-4 handed each of them overalls with a mask attached.

It looked weird and was heavily padded special type of rubber encased gloves. They wore it over the overall they were already wearing. GMN-1 looked over at 6 who was adjusting hers to fit perfectly. The butt looked funny.

"Diapers anyone?"GMN-1 said with clear amusement.

"ha ha,very funny" GMN-6 Replied. GMN-1 was surprised that despite her uneasiness she found something amusing, not that it was hard. GMN-6 looked like a big baby in that overall.

"I thought so too. All your missing is a bottle" GMN-1 replied

"here!" GMN-4 said handing her a workout bottle

"you've got to be kidding!" GMN-6 said in disbelief

"no" GMN-4 said taking her hand and putting the bottle

"how cute"GMN-1 feigned a flattery but her overall expression was serious.

"you're the one to talk. Check a mirror sister!" GMN-6 retorted but 1 ignored her.

GMN-1 walked to the back and drew out one of the bags 4 stowed to the edge and zipped it open. She inclined her head as if to ask 'what the heck?'. She looked up at him and he raised an eyebrow in question, she just shrugged. Who was she to complain? More ammunition, more damage and she was in the mood to do damage among other weird things she was feeling.

She stocked up. She picked up a gun.

"sure you can handle that?" GMN-3 asked suspiciously. She corked the gun while looking at him.

"where do you want the bullet?" she asked GMN-3 raised his hand in surrender. She turned and stuff one of the ever present backpack and carried it to the door and dropped it infront of the vehicle.

"I'm having a harder time keeping up with her mood swings recently" GMN-2 murmured to 3 who was beside him.

"then don't" GMN-4 said to him and then turned to the rest. "whoever has an empty backpack…. well I don't care" he was already filling his backpack.

"and she had to have the first pick" GMN-5 grumbled as she tried to free herself from the overall. How on earth did she manage to get stuck?

"nobody speaks frozen duck" GMN-4 said drily

GMN-5's gasp of outrage was amusing. The sides of GMN-1's lips curved a little. The closest she had ever come to a smile. The rest of them tried their best to stifle a laugh then…

"sorry I can't help it" GMN-6 said then stood with her feet shoulder width apart, bent down and laughed her stomach out. The remaining looked like choking fishes trying to hold their laugh. When 6 was done with her laughter, she straightened up.

"my apologies to the affected parties but that was rib cracking" GMN-6 said and made her way to the back. GMN-1 shook her head. 6 was quite the character. GMN-5 turned and marched up to 1 starring her right in the face. GMN-1 as usual didn't bother looking at her.

"feel free to laugh but just know I'll be watching you" GMN-5 said trying to sound menancing but she didn't quite pull it off. She no longer cared if people saw or noticed. Whatever that was playing the music in her head had turned on the home theater.

"So you'll pick up my garbage." GMN-1 said drily. She sounded like whatever 5 said was yesterday's news.

"I've never seen this side of her" GMN-2 said contemplatively.

For once 4 looked like he agreed with him but he didn't say anything just observed her.

"spoiling your good girl image are we?" GMN-5 mocked

"I've got horns and a tail, you should have seen that coming" GMN-1 said seriously

"wow! Sassy! I like that chick!" GMN-6 exclaimed with a whistle and GMN-3 facepalmed.

Are they seriously doing this now! He wondered. To 9 this was the final showdown before death. 4 looked like he was trying to figure out what was actually going on. 7 looked confused while 2 was trying to fit things in his documentation of everyone.

"can we get this show on the road, I'm eager to die now" GMN-9 suddenly blurted out. The turned to him and that was when he realized his inner monologue made its way out. He turned red in the face. Though he wasn't actually looking forward to dying but he rather be in there than out here where the tension could rival the intensity of the sun.

"we've wasted enough time. If there are people inside they've probably laid ambush" GMN-3 said

"let's get this over with" GMN-5 said heading to the back, packing whatever was left in the available backpack and leaving the back open. 9 sighed and closed it, checking security on the vehicle. If anything should happen to it, he had more to lose.

"send out the heat sensing minibots" GMN-4 said

"on it!" GMN-9 replied

"what exactly are we looking for? The clone maker? The clone? Something else?" GMN-7 asked

"everything" GMN-1 replied

"I still think someone should stand guard outside" GMN-2 said

"someone is" GMN-1 said collecting the device 9 was holding and attaching a small chip to it.

"who?" GMN-5 and 6 asked

"what is that?" GMN-9 asked gesturing to the thing she just attached.

It reconfigured his device popping up another tab. He could see just inside the car and then outside as the scanned the entire area. It was some kind of see through configuration.

GMN-3 came closer, looked at the device and into the car their was some flickering of some kind but he couldn't make out a distinct structure but something was there. He scratched his head.

"how many more tricks do you have up your sleeves?" he asked

"more than you can count then again you really don't want to know" she replied as she spied 5 already moving forward. Okay, she guessed this dog and pony show was officially on the road.

The got to the enterance they had already mapped out. It was open. Some went around to check other exit and they were closed. It became glaringly obvious that they were meant to enter through that door.

"reinforced metal, charming" GMN-1 murmured

"I don't feel so charmed right now" GMN-6 said

" am I the only one thinking this could be a trap?" GMN-5 asked

"it is a trap" GMN-4 calmly stated

"then why are we going in?"

"would you rather stay outside?" GMN-3 asked

It was infact a glaring in your eyes trap. What were the odds that all other exits were unbreakably closed and only one was no stress open? Then again trap or not they needed to get to the bottom of things.

GMN-3 led the way inside followed by 2, 5, 9, 6. GMN-1 shoved something into 4's hands.

"avoid contact with skin" she said before preceeding him inside. He opened his hands and looked at box of small viles. He didn't know what they were and they were carefully sealed. He carefully stowed them away. Whatever it was, it was going to prove useful, somehow.

They walked in. The dark hallways looked typical nothing out of the ordinary. The empty space of the abandoned warehouse surprised them. They followed the single hallway leading to only one door and came out to an empty space.

"this is well… empty"GMN-7 said. He couldn't decide if he was disappointed or relieved.

"we pinpointed the signal to this exact location. There's no mistake about that" GMN-9 said

GMN 3 and 2 looked around and came back to their starting point.

"there are no knobs or buttons or any secret door" GMN-2 said

"the place is pretty solid. I hate to say this but there's nothing here" GMN-3 said

"so we just wasted this trip for nothing!?" GMN-5 asked to no one in particular

"whoever made those clone is wicked smart. Finding them was never going to be easy"GMN-9 said

6 tookbone look at the visible contemplative expression on 1's face.

"is this one of the 'it's here but we don't know situation' because I hate hide and seek situations!" GMN-6 was seriously getting worked up here.

"I did see some strange markings on the wall. It made no sense though. Looked like graffiti gone wrong." GMN-2 said and pointed them towards where he saw them. They went there and after starring awhile.

"I have seriously never seen anything like this before" GMN-6 said

"obviously. Anyway I know languages even some dead one but this doesn't look like any language. We should ask 7, maybe it's a drawing of some kind" GMN-5 said

"I've never seen anything like that before" GMN-7 said with a puzzled expression

GMN-1 just stared. The timer on the bomb in her head started going faster. What are the odds that something like that will appear here? She replayed what her brain was showing her about something like this when she felt a gentle push that was followed by a more forceful one. She looked beside her and saw 6. She inclined her head, what?

"you're doing the 'I'm here but not here' thing again. We've been trying to get your attention" GMN-6 said

"I'm telling you this can't be a language and if it then it has to be top secret" GMN-5 had been going on and on.

"it is not and it is" GMN-1 said

"plain English please! Some of us are monolingual" GMN-6 said. Uncertainty wasn't her forte and made her cranky

"technically it's not 'a language' and it's supposed to be secret" GMN-1 explained

"Confusion becomes me and I it" GMN-6 recited like a poet

"it is not a language per se but a combination of more than one more. It is literally non-existent but there are few exception" GMN-1 said

"I got the first part but not the second" GMN-7 said

"It was not made to be a language but a communication style. In this sense, the right meaning can only be understood by the sender and the receiver or probably just the sender. It was designed as a top secret form of communication" GMN-1 explained

"I don't know how that could be top secret. If a person knows a bunch of language then it could be decoded" GMN-9 said

"the message is not in what is written as much as what is not or what is implied. To be understood the decoder would have to have basic information which… how do I explain this?"

"don't bother, you'll only get us more confused"GMN-9 shook his head like he was shaking off a trance

"if it is non-existent, how come you know about it?"GMN-5 asked

"because…because…"GMN-1 began not knowing how to explain this situation.

"she created it" GMN-4 completed. That was the only logic that made sense. How it seemed to make sense to him was more puzzling.

"she what?" they all asked

"I mean, I think so. Only the basics, but I could be wrong" GMN-1 hastily replied. Something about seeing that was making her nervous.

"I seriously don't doubt it. I would have before but right now I'd even suggest it"GMN-7 said

"why's that?" GMN-2 asked

"I've been around her lately and the things she… I mean she's her and it takes someone like her to create something like this, bordering on insane and impossible" GMN-7 said

"true" GMN-3 agreed

"this person also shares your sentiments" GMN-1 said wryly

"what does it say?" GMN-6 asked. GMN-1 made to talk but she added. "understandable translation please"

"that one means 'boo' and the other implies 'I think like you' weird" GMN-1 said

"Everything's about you isn't it?" GMN-5 said sarcastically

"any other thing?" GMN-3 asked and she looked uncomfortable

"talks about other forms of pain and no going back. Lots of hate and anger, resentment and saying it's all my fault?" GMN-1 said

"What do you have to do with all these?" GMN-2 asked

"I don't usually know. Talks about a beginning. Says something about 'older reflection' and 'mini me'. This isn't a clue, it's…"

"venting" GMN-2 said

"Erratic, pent up, bitter" GMN-7 said

"So how does she fit into all these?" GMN-4 was not yet clear on that part.

"any other thing? Like something, that would help us find the lair?" GMN-5 asked

"puzzle, find me, clue: you" GMN-1 said

"you as in 'you' or you as in you?" GMN-6 asked pointing at 1 for the last part

"that doesn't even make sense" GMN-9 said

"Is she the clue or is the clue you?" GMN-6 asked

Everyone was confused but 4 was more wary. If this involved 1 it was more than likely going to put her in danger. From the look on her face, there was more hidden around that only she could decipher that could be useful to them.

"chances I'll regret this are 100 to 0." GMN-1 said

"You don't have to" GMN-4 said. Screw this! As long as she didn't want to, Doc could go hang herself; but he knew the odds. She wouldn't just walk away from this.

Did she have a choice? They could go back and 5 would rant them out but with no definite location they would be off the hook for a while, this hook anyway. On the other hand it was prolonging the inevitable. She had a feeling this was a huge lead for them and could put a lot of things in perspective. It talked about a beginning, what beginning? For once she felt curiosity was going to kill this cat but if it was like though she needed to know, they needed to know. If it was all connected, she owed it to them too. She sighed. Decisions, decisions. Her dreams were more frequent, what if she needed the answers more to fix herself. There were two final messages. She spun around in circles.

"I drive" GMN-1 walking out. The confusion was obvious but they still followed her.

4 desperately wanted to stop her but he knew she wouldn't be stopped on this. He took the passenger seat. Her driving was frantic and erratic but nobody said a word.

She pulled up in front of a pharmacy in a remote area beside a repairs shop.

"why here?" GMN-7 asked

"the power" GMN-4 answered

"the signal led back to where we just left which was basically in the middle of nowhere, perfect location" GMN-9 said

"and so obvious" GMN-2 replied

"excuse me" GMN-6 said to get their attention. "yeah excuse me. Was there some mind conference we missed because we didn't get the memo"

GMN-1 didn't say anything. She just got out of the car and grabbed her back pack. The rest followed.

"Here we go" GMN-6 said as they walked into the pharmacy. The attendant was a woman of about 30; another clone and looked to be an interactive.

"Welcome to …" The clone began but GMN-1 grabbed it and snapped off its head while 4 locked the door and drew the blinds.

"need to look for an entrance or a secret door" GMN-7 said

"no need" GMN-1 said and advanced to the end of the shop.They could notice a different vibe coming from her and it kept them all on edge. She made her way towards the table leaning on the wall. They assumed she was going to press a button or something. She just jumped over the table and disappeared.

"what the…?" GMN-6 was confused.

GMN-4 was right behind her and so were 2 and 7. The rest had no choice but to follow.

"easy!" GMN-1 said as she steadied GMN-5 who nearly crashed. It looked like she made a very high jump. GMN-1 didn't know what she was thinking when she jumped.

"Next time warn us!" GMN-5 struggled out of her hands and she let her go and 5 stumbled then glared at her. GMN-1 couldn't be bothered by her. It seemed they landed in a decoy wanting room, another mad and madder adventure? She hoped not.

"we are in, what next?" GMN-6 asked

"we look around and find something" GMN-3 said

They started forward, staying alert. For an underground lab it was top notch but every security was disabled. It was like a visit to a private museum with no guide or supervision. The place was well equipped. Some experiments were still in progress, some looked like they were being tested. There was everything and anything science. Whoever this person was, he or she was a genius. Modified, enhanced and improved models were lined up. Technology and science was having a field day. The place was huge and spacious and they could bet it did not just span under the pharmacy and the repair shop.

GMN-1 looked around the place. This was totally her style. There was no form of decoration unless you consider state of the art facilities as decoration. Almost everything was monotone, grey and white.

"this person sure as hell thinks like you" GMN-7 commented

"Seriously, what's missing isan underground hanger" GMN-2 said dryly

"found it!" GMN-7 said, pointing to the transparent glass windows. They moved closer but avoided getting too close.

"an underground private hanger below an underground lab? Sure you guys ain't family?"GMN-6 chipped. They seem to be loosening up and forgetting they could be in immediate danger, probably the idea.

The lone person watching the surveillance feed scoffed. That redhead didn't stray far from the truth. She observed her target. The more they saw, the more quiet and withdrawn she became. Her expression was blank but the spectator seemed wryly amused.

GMN-1 wondered what exactly this person or whatever was playing at. Was this coincidence or product of careful study or previous knowledge? She didn't believe in such coincidences. She scoffed and the spectator narrowed her eyes. There was something they both hated playing games in which they weren't incharge or making the rules.

GMN-1 stood still and looked up. She knew they were being watched. She was curious to know if the person knew how she thought or thought they were similar. As she looked up, she looked bored and unimpressed like she would have done better.

The first real smile appeared on the spectators face. It quickly disappeared as she stood up from her swivel chair and straightened her clothes before walking out with the clones. Time for some family reunion.