Chapter 60

"The place is perfect, with firm structures and more than enough space both inside and outside," GMN-7 said when they came back. GMN-6 couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. GMN-3 just rolled his eyes.

"That's good," GMN-6 said with her grin still in place.

"We found a lot of credit cards, physical cash, and jewels. Doc was a lot more greedy than we assumed"GMN-2 said

"Can we access the cards?" GMN-4 asked

"The money is no longer in those cards but yes," GMN-2 said

"Mind explaining that?" GMN-7 asked

"I figured the owner of the money can close the account or report the cards missing, so l moved the funds into separate accounts just enough to not create suspicions," GMN-9 said

"And the rest?" GMN-4 asked

"I used them to buy currencies, different currencies. They are safe and redeemable." GMN-9 said

"The jewels?" GMN-4 asked

"It turns out they are antique and priceless," GMN-5 said

"She identified them as some precious artifact lost in time," GMN-2 said

"So we set up an online auction. We also sold some things online, it remains to deliver" GMN-9 said

"What did she do?" GMN-7 asked pointing at 6

"She set up the price and strategy. She also packed and labeled boxes" GMN-9 replied

"Guess who I found? Come here boy" GMN-6 said

The dog ran out of a corner. The rest just stared at the dog. Somehow they seemed to have forgotten they had a dog or GMN-1 had a dog. One more thing she left behind.

"It's still alive" GMN-4 stated as if remembering past grievances

"He was on loan to the cook, so I got him back," GMN-6 said

"We have a cook?" GMN-5 looked surprised. Well, there was always food, both hot and refrigerated. She never wondered where they came from.

"A cherry man at that, maybe we could bring him along?" GMN-6 replied

"Discuss that later," GMN-4 said as he mentally shoved that aside

"How is Mr. Stone?" GMN-7 asked

"Alive. Conscious. Sad and depressed. Williams has been keeping him company but at this point neither can be considered good company" GMN+3 replied

"And Dr. Stone?"GMN-4 asked

"Moody, depressed, silent, nothing new," GMN-3 said

"Are they aware we'll be moving soon?" GMN-4 asked again

"I didn't think it necessary to tell them," GMN-3 said. 4 just nodded

"How was the house?" GMN-2 asked

"Suitable" GMN-4 said

"Are you sure you only met him once?" GMN-7 said as he turned to 6. "I mean he just gifted you a huge property that fits your description to the tee and more, did I mention expensive and you've only met him once? I find that hard to believe."

"What can I say, I've got charms," GMN-6 said with a careless shrug. GMN-3 just rolled his eyes again. He didn't know why the idea of another man liking her and gifting her house bothered him, but it did.

"Things are stirring up recently and with GMN-1's disappearance we are not in a good position," GMN-9 said

"We should leave as soon as possible," GMN-4 said

"We can leave sometime tomorrow" GMN-7 suggested

"So about the people we are taking..." GMN-2 said

"The dog and doctor stone. I don't think there is anybody else" GMN-3 said

"We are by no means leaving the cook. He even said he's more than willing to go with us"GMN-6 said. Then she remembered something."Doctor Stone!?"

Her momentary rambling had confused the others but now...

"Hell no!" GMN-9 exclaimed

"You've got to be joking!"GMN-5 said

4 and 7 frowned

"I hate the man as much as you do but let's face the facts. He knows more about us than we know ourselves" GMN-3 stated.

"That's because he is the one that turned us into lab rats!" GMN-6 retorted.

"Exactly. He's got the knowledge and we need his help since 1 is still missing" GMN-3 replied.

They all looked at him. They knew that there was a sense in what he was saying but they didn't like the idea at all. Harboring a murderer who is capable of destroying his daughter. Who's to say he's had a change of heart?

"Can we trust him?" GMN-4 asked. He was more interested in their safety than any advantage Dr. Stone might bring to the table.

"We wouldn't have to if your girlfriend didn't decide to go MIA on us." GMN-5 mocked

"She should have killed you before she left at least she would have saved us stress" GMN-6 chimed in and 5 rolled her eyes.

"You can hardly blame her" GMN-2 defend

"Yeah? because technically this whole thing is her fault" GMN-5 didn't back down. If it weren't for 1 maybe this whole experiment wouldn't have happened and if it did at least they'd seek revenge without consideration.

"Why are you so bent on blaming her?" GMN-2 asked. He never understood 5's vendetta with 1.

"It's not her fault!"GMN-4 declared.

"Daddy and mommy dearest decided they were tired of the little blonde riding hood and decided to dispose of her, in order not to raise suspicions they decided to play tag with a whole bunch of other kids, who mind you had nothing to do with this. Of course, this is her fault!" GMN-5 said angrily. The rest stared at her as she worked up some aggression. They didn't know the underlying reason she was always against GMN-1. They still didn't retort. Some thought it was pointless to reason with her and some didn't know what to say but after a while someone did.

"Hating her, blaming her won't make you better. Do you think we all were randomly selected? You keep comparing yourself and that's why you end up dejected. She's one of a kind, everyone here knows that.." GMN-2 stated plainly.

"Says the besotted fool" GMN-6 countered angrily. It hurt but she'd die before she admits that.

"She's leagues away. The only fool is one who fails to realize that" GMN-2 said

GMN-6 wanted to say something again but 7 stopped her.

"You've already wasted much of our time," he said to 5.

"We need to pack. We leave as soon as this place is stripped" GMN-4 said. The rest nodded except GMN-5. She hated the fact that everyone always took sides with 1 even when she was not around. She had a slight change of mind when she realized the kind of parents 1 had. She had always envied GMN-1, the girl was drop dead gorgeous, IQ through the roof, and talented. She hated her guts, the way her mind worked, the way she seemed to be better than her in everything, and the fact that she was treated like a goddess. She hated that she could never be number 1 thanks to GMN-1's existence. However, right now she wasn't sure she hated her. She blamed her, mocked her, and would gladly turn the whole world against her but did she hate her, No. That fact alone infuriated her to no end.

"There are still few things left" GMN-9 reminded

"9 and I will handle the transportation, 7 would handle the catalog, 2 the staff, 3 the Stones, 5 libraries, 6 kitchen. Any objection?" GMN-4 said. The rest negatively shook their heads.

They took off each to their assigned duty. GMN 4 and 9 restored the jet to working condition. They chose the route and detection camouflage.

They worked the rest of the day and night and were able to finish.

GMN-4 met 6 at the entrance to 1's room. She just stood there and stared.

"It feels like I'm invading her privacy," GMN-6 said. GMN-4 patted her shoulder as she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "I don't think you should be going through her stuff when she is not around. she is a female and there might be things you are not supposed to see or she wouldn't want you to see"

"Then she has removed it besides you will not be as detailed as I" GMN-4 walking past her into the room

"Okay, this place is bare. Aside from clothes and books, nothing else!" GMN-6 said exasperatedly. She didn't find anything earlier and doubted she would now.

"She was much too smart for her own good" GMN-4 commented drily

"There has to be something here"

"There is. We just haven't found it" he said, touching the surface of the desk that had attached cupboards. He had checked the cupboards, they were empty. He checked for secret compartments, but there were none. Still, something was fascinating about the table, he just couldn't place it. He pulled the chair out and sat down.

"What are you doing?" GMN-6 asked after a while.

He twirled the chair around and then slid it forward but he couldn't slip the chair under because of his frame. He got up and motioned for 6 to sit. She raised an eyebrow in question but still did.

GMN-4 then slid the chair into the table and there was nothing. He made her stand up again. Honestly, she couldn't tell what he was looking for.

"Alright! This is pointless! If there was something here, we would have found it by now." She said with an exasperated hand gesture.

"Do you find anything strange about the table?" GMN-4 asked,

"aside from your obvious fascination with it?"

he ignored her and looked around the room. He was beginning to notice something. the time he had been into her room, some things were never met in the same position. He had thought she had a flair for rearranging things but now.

"Call 9 and tell him to come with his laptop," he said to 6. She left and returned with more than 9.

"What's going on?" GMN-4 asked

"oh come on. no one could resist. The girl is an enigma." GMN-7 said allowing himself in. He knew to 4 it would be the same thing as trespassing but right now the curiosity would kill him first before 4. they had finished their duties fast so that they wouldn't miss out on this.

"I brought my laptop as you requested, what's up?"

"Doc was always watching her. Do you have any videos"

"Of 1 or Doc?" At this, some turned to look at him. Creep much? He shrugged. 1 was interesting but he never understood her, plus she was terrifying. He also happened to know someone else who was obsessed with watching her so sometimes he watched the person watch her to see if he could understand something about 1 from Doc. This way he won't be accused of watching her since he was watching some other person. Turned out the woman was more confused than him so he watched her have mental breakdowns as entertainment.

"There are lots, more like she was planning to make a documentary. though they were not 24/7 she did follow a particular routine whenever she was in there like she already knew she was being watched. in the previous facility, her walls were two-way mirrors" GMN-9 said

"That's so sick" GMN-2 exclaimed

GMN-9 turned to look at him as if to say, you're telling me. He was fond of hacking into the surveillance cams and he was never once detected. It was just that he found he would rather do something else than watch people all the time but then he usually spied on others and somethings 5,6 and 7. 5 was always suspicious, hiding something or up to no good. 7 was a bit obsessed with himself and anything with structure. He also had a fascination with towers and certain buildings, blueprints, floor plans, and whatnot. 6 was a nutcase. the girl was the complete shades of crazy, always pulling stunts. She once had an entire zoo hidden in her room, Doc wasn't happy about that. He found 3 boring and monotonous, 2 was well a special case. He was nuts but in a different way. He seemed pretty normal on the surface with chivalry and all but from his observations, his mind could work in the opposite direction. When he wanted to, his mental analysis was the point except when it came to 1. One bad thing was the guy could talk and act so dumb. He wasn't bad, just a chameleon. He was the king of psychological torture but compared to 1 he was still learning and now he knew why. 1's parents should be locked in hell. 1 and 4 were the danger zones. They seemed to know when someone was watching them, especially 1. he would find her looking directly at the camera whenever he gained access like she knew what he was up to. He stopped spying on her when she indirectly threatened him. she told him that the power of sight was a beautiful thing but the true beauty was the brain decoding what the eyes saw. What would happen if the brain ability was tampered with? the way she looked at his eyes made him never monitor her except asked to. 4 was a bit monotonous but not as boring as 3. He was mostly solving equations, drawing something, dismantling, or coupling at least in his room.

"She's not here and you're still scared" GMN-7 commented when he noticed 9's hesitation at 9's surprised looks he continued. "she once told me that the person that was likely to know everyone's secret was 9, not 5 or Doc"

"and when was this?" 4 asked

"Before we went for the last mission"

"How did you even become on good terms with her that she became so chatty with you?" GMN-6 asked

"Let's get something clear. First, GMN-1 was never chatty. second, she's not on bad terms with anyone, even 5." 6 felt the need to defend her

"Third?" GMN-4 asked

"She helped me," he said in a low tone. no one except her knew how hard it was for him to fit in after he was toppled by 5 and tossed away by Doc. he would admit he let his greed get the best of him and when he found out it wasn't worth it he was in an awkward position. Then he started having problems controlling his invisibility. She was there silently watching. That was when he noticed she was always there with her signature expression of disinterest but awareness. He had always been wary of her. She always seems to know, always one step ahead with measures and countermeasures. She slowly and surely integrated him into the group. He realized that she was the one person that always seemed nonchalant but was always there when needed. His appreciation and respect for her have doubled since then.

GMN-4 decided to ignore him and his brow-raising comment for now. He turned to 9.

"I want you to pull out the first surveillance video of this room after we were given our special room. I want to use that and create a frame then run every surveillance footage of this room over that frame and notify me of changes in arrangement"

"You're kidding right?" He wanted him to run all the surveillance tapes he could pull out through a single frame?

"What are you looking for?" GMN-2 asked

"Beats me" GMN-6 replied and stood in a corner. She would rather not be involved in this.

"Every time we come into this room. The position of pieces of furniture has been changed" 4 replied

"So she likes redecorating," GMN-5 said raising both hands in a durrh gesture

"Did she strike you as someone that would waste her time with such trivialities?" GMN-2 asked 5

"What is that supposed to mean? I'll have you know that redecorating is a work of art" GMN-6 countered

"You think it means something?" GMN-3 asked

"Moving pieces of furniture around was never her hobby," 4 said

"Still what could it mean?" 6 asked

"We'll have a better idea when 9 is done"

Three hours later he was finally done. In that time 6 managed to pack what was left and it wasn't much. Her book collection was mind-boggling.

"She has an extensive library," 3 remarked

"Extensive wouldn't be the word I'd use" 6 grumbled.

There was nothing she didn't read, from science to arts, everything, anything. It was like an obsession, an obsession with knowledge.

"I even saw some music books" GMN-3

"I didn't know she was musically inclined," 5 said

"You don't know anything. Period!" GMN-6 said putting the last book in the suitcase.

"I'm done!" GMN-9 announced

"What did you discover, any hidden clue or message?" GMN-2 asked even before 4 could talk.

"I didn't discover anything, but I found that this table has been in seven different places," he said, pointing to the reading desk. "As to any hidden clue or message, I was hoping you guys would discover it yourself. I won't be able to see a clue even if she handed it to me" GMN-9 always felt that GMN-1 was beyond his mental capacity to understand. Everything about her was a puzzle.

The other GMNs gathered around him. They could see the seven frames that depicted the change in the table's position.

"How long has the table remained in this position?" GMN-4 asked

"A year plus" 9 reply

"How did she get away with moving tables around without Doc getting suspicious?" GMN-5 asked

"We didn't notice anything suspicious about it until it was pointed out. Doc's IQ is not up to one-tenth of yours and you're the dumbest" GMN-6 replied

"Is there something you'd like to say to me!?" GMN-5 asked with a defensive edge to her voice

"I'm already saying it to your face!" GMN-6 countered aggressively

"Not now," GMN-4 said like a parent with annoying kids who were always bickering and that was enough to diffuse the tension.

"Still, how did she manage to evade Doc's suspicion? That woman was on her more than a hawk on a chick" GMN-7 asked

"It's quite straightforward. She chose a specific time with less suspicion." GMN-4 replied

"Delivery day," GMN-2 said with an understanding grin. What better day to rearrange stuff than a delivery day when they needed to make room for new stuff? No one would suspect a thing.

"Remind me again why this is suspicious. She could just be rearranging her room like a normal person would do to optimize space" GMN-5 said

"But she's not normal, is she?" GMN-2 said as his understanding smile turned into a self-deprecating one. There were a lot of things he in particular missed out and he prided himself on understanding and reading people.

"Her room is arranged like keypads on a mobile phone," GMN-2 said, removing 9's hand from the wireless mouse and zooming in

"And you arrived at that conclusion how?" GMN-6 asked

He looked from the computer screen to the room and gestured his head to the far end of the room.

"By the right, you'll see a nice drawing of the star, in the middle you have a drawing of a full moon, and on the left, there is just her ash-colored cabinet"

"It still doesn't say anything other than she is a very dark individual who loved the moon and stars and the color ash," GMN-5 said

"And in the history of GMN-1 that is saying much. Did you notice that it is among the few splash of color in her overly white room" GMN-6 said

"Everything in the room is arranged symmetrically with the middle bare" GMN-2 said

"If we buy into the crazy guy's theory of insanity, we get the numbers 0761723. Which mind you doesn't make any sense" GMN-9 said

"If it's from a keypad, we could try dialing it or better still tracing it," GMN-7 said

"I still think this is a wild goose chase. We leave in a couple of hours, though I'm curious what it would be if this madness turns out to be real, I'm not in favor of wasting…"

"Then leave," GMN-3 said. Everyone turned to look at him. He was usually neutral.

"The number does not exist," GMN-9 said

"Now do you believe my wild goose chase theory?" 5 asked with arms folded

"0761723 must mean something. It's too precise not to mean something" GMN-3

"Did you say 1723?" GMN-5 asked.

"And she's not going to say something meaningful," GMN-6 said like she could see herself wasting her energy listening to 5.

5 ignored her as she contemplated. It does make sense.

"What is it?" GMN-2 asked

"That's the code to one of the safes in Doc's office," 5 said

Everyone was taken aback. Why would the number be linked to Doc's office? It doesn't make sense unless…

"076. Doc's office is room number 7 on the sixth floor." GMN-7 said

The question was why would GMN-1 keep something in Doc's office. They headed to Doc's office and were there in a matter of seconds.

"Which safe?" GMN-4 asked and GMN-5 pointed to the exact safe.

"That was where Doc usually kept information about the targets," GMN-7 said and they looked at him. He had once told her about the safe, and how important it was to Doc and she was expressionless and he had thought it was the classic GMN-1 reaction. He should have known that she was already aware of it. GMN-5 opened it and brought out the documents inside it. There was a pile. She passed it and they all looked at it.

"This is some kind of kill list," GMN-6 said

"Of course it is. Did you think we were given random people to kill? They were all from the grand list. Each of them has detailed profiling." 5 said

"Aside from Doc's file there is nothing else here," GMN-9 said peering into the safe.

"Wait! There is something wrong with this list." GMN-5 said pulling out the main ledger and placing it on the table with the document she had been holding beside it. She looked it over while the others watched her and gave a mocking laugh. She had seen this list several times especially when new names were added.

"She actually tampered with the list. Man! Doc is so stupid and clueless. This is not the original list" GMN-5 said

"The list is handwritten by Doc. Are you saying that Doc doesn't know when someone tampered with something she wrote?" GMN-6 asked

"Exactly. The fact that she made it so obvious and Doc didn't notice. She must have been rolling on the ground in laughter assuming she had a sense of humor because I would and you would too" GMN-5 said. She looked around Doc's office and found a document handwritten by Doc and gave them to compare. They could see the difference. As 5 brought out a folder from a secret compartment in Doc's table cupboard. She had always wanted to know what was inside them. They were all handwritten by Doc. She knew that Doc was too paranoid for her own good that she hand-wrote most of the documents she didn't want to save to her computer. It was like a security measure for her. She opened it and could not understand what it was, so she handed it over to the rest. GMN-3 took one look at it and his jaw dropped.

"Wow!" he said and handed it to 4. 4 looked at it while the others crowded him as he looked through the files. They looked like a compiled copy of their medical records but why would Doc keep a handwritten copy of this?

"She was using us for her personal research," GMN-3 said, collecting the documents back. "However, I noticed an inconsistency. Some of the formula components are quite harsh and some react negatively when used together.

"Explain react negatively in this context," GMN-6 asked

"The chemical composition of these makes quite a lethal combination," GMN-3 said pointing them out

"How can we inject something lethal and not notice," GMN-7 asked

"These are mostly neuro stimulants." GMN-2 said peering over 3's shoulder "from the looks of it one or most of us should have acted out. I mean there are multiple experiments. This is so crazy" he said, wiping a hand over his face. He had the look of one who understood but did not fully understand.

"If we were given…" GMN-7 began

"We weren't, at least not most of the time. This explains a lot" GMN-3 said sighing heavily

"Do you mind explaining to us?" 5 said

"Think about it, Doc had to find a clever way to administer these to us without being detected. There were two options: what we ingest and what we inject. GMN-1 had a more sensitive nose and a bank of mistrust against Doc. Her knowledge of chemistry and chemicals, a landmark advantage so naturally she would notice."

"If she did, why did she not tell anyone? We were all at risk here" 5 said

"All these while you worked for Doc you didn't notice a thing," GMN-2 said, fixing his stare on her.

"I knew Doc was…but not this…" 5 began

"Wait a minute!" GMN-3 said taking off and coming back a few seconds later with a file he dropped on Doc's table. "Take a look at this"

He said to 2 who looked at it, arched a brow, and looked at 3. 3 saw the look of surprise on his face. At least he wasn't the only one surprised.

"I have files on my computer that I randomly opened one day and they are all inventories and purchase orders," GMN-3 said

"Would someone explain what the heck is going on!?" GMN-6 said exasperatedly

"She has been blindsiding Doc," GMN-2 said. He wanted to laugh but at the same time, he felt stupid. He was the one supposed to be blindsiding, he studied each of them to the tee but when it came to 1, he felt like he knew nothing.

GMN-6 smiled like she was trying to control her anger. She knew that something was going on and she asked him to explain and they were giving her riddles. Riddles! Blindsiding Doc? Was she expected to guess the entire transaction through that? She opened her mouth to say something snarky but 3 beat her to it.

" GMN-1 was altering Doc's supply order. For the ones, she couldn't change she substituted or created suppressants. In other words, while Doc was thinking she was using us for her experiments and recording results, in the real sense she wasn't"

"That would make her research bogus?" GMN-5 said surprised. Not that she cared but this was on another level.

"That's putting it mildly. With all she did, if Doc was to replicate her research elsewhere based on these findings, she might be as good as dead, career-wise if not physically" GMN-3 said

"Wow!" 5 could not believe it. She was overwhelmed. She didn't know they were being used for experiments but GMN-1 was hundreds of steps ahead. She had a new level of respect for the girl but she'd be damned if she repeats that to someone else.

GMN-6 felt like laughing. It was hilarious to her. Underneath the nonchalant, 'I can't be bothered' expression was a witch. A scheming witch. She knew 1 had some bitchiness but this?

GMN-4 was expressionless. He always knew she was up to something and took way less credit. He also knew she could be straightforward and manipulative sometimes even at the same time. They uncovered this because she wasn't around. He didn't doubt there was more.

"Remember that day she was bleeding and fainted" GMN-9 suddenly recalled. They looked at him. Why would he bring that up now? It wasn't just fainting. 9 took a look at their faces and corrected himself. "Not that kind of bleeding, the normal kind. The day Doc asked her to go for her physical"

"That. Very risky. You see, her body is the most resilient. It attacks unknown bodies especially when it doesn't get… how do I put this… a clear signal from the brain. Doc did not procure those new 'medicines' for lack of a better term, it was offered to her. Something she started doing. At least I was aware of this and she was too." GMN-3 said

"Aware of what?" 9 asked

"Poison," 4 said plainly

"Not quite. Doc sometimes added things to our food and water. They were usually undetectable, especially in fruits with high acidic contents". GMN-3 explained

" don't paint it, it is poison! If you all knew this why the silence!?"6 asked

"You have no self-control," 4 said bluntly. Everyone was expecting her to pick offense. It was the truth most of the time but still, 4 was tactless.

"We are running out of time" GMN-9 reminded

"We still have to keep this place,"4 said. He was worried that they wouldn't find all they needed and whatever that would be lost would be detrimental to them.

GMN-7 just stood still. This was so overwhelming and he felt there were so many things that were off. He needed to start talking but first. He walked towards Doc's save. It was empty. He had seen them remove everything but he still felt…

"There's nothing there!" 5 said harshly. She had planned to raid Doc's office on her own but she had not had a moment alone. Doc had got to have left something important and the experiments were not it.

GMN-7 ignored her. What did GMN-1 tell him? Looks are always deceiving. He bent down to peer inside the safe. He stretched his hand and touched the metal end of the safe. It was sturdy. He felt something pricking his subconscious, then he remembered the files she gave him. He raced out and was back with a thick bundle. He could remember her exact words as she helped him decode the architectural structure of an ancient crypt. She had told him to hold on to it that it might come in handy. when he asked her why she didn't just hold it, she just shrugged and slapped his chest with it, turned, and left saying if he needed her, he knew where to find her. He flipped it open to a particular one. Now he understood why it looked familiar. It was the layout of Doc's office. He was tempted to laugh as he flipped through the others. He was deeply overwhelmed by his stupidity.

"I'm so stupid," GMN-7 said to himself but they heard him.

"Can't argue with that" GMN-6 said

He showed it to the rest but some of them could not understand what they were seeing.

"I suggest you get to work here. Let me have the rest" GMN-4 said

Okay, what was going on? They seem to understand the gridlines, shapes and whatsoever else they saw there. The rest didn't know much about buildings or structure but it goes to say GMN-1's knowledge base was out of this world. What did she not know?

7 was reluctant to part with the contents of the file but he understood what was at stake and what 4 was trying to do. He knew that 4 had a problem with the fact that he had been the custodian of such important information and he didn't blame him. It could have been him but then, he would have been on to her faster than he was. So she basically entrusted it to the stupid one. This new reality was not easy to swallow. He quietly handed it over.

4 took a proper look at it. This was something. He was just speechless. Speechless she knew about some things, speechless she was able to pull a lot of things off without being noticed. Speechless because that was the only thing he could be given the situation. Just speechless.