Summer Olympic Short Story Contest - Margaux

*In a secret bunker located in the Mainland of the Empire.*

A scientist sits at a table and mixes colorful liquids together.
"Robert."
"What?" The scientist sets down the test tubs. Robert Mixtures turns to look behind him.

A man in a royal blue suit stands at the door to the lab.
"The Emperor is here to see you."

Robert stands, "What? Why is he here?" Robert runs his hand through his thinning hair.

The man at the door answers, "I do not ask questions." He steps out of the door.

Robert watches as a large man steps into the door frame. The man has a small silver crown on his head. He has a slight limp to his walk, but he shows no signs of it impeding him.

"Hello, Mr. Mixtures."

Robert bows, "Good afternoon, Emperor Augusta."

The Emperor nods his head.
"You probably don't know why I'm here. So I will cut to the chase. I'm here for the Mixture classified as "Gifted"."

Robert flinches, "Sir, not to be rude. But, how did you learn about that."

The Emperor smiled, "I know everything. I know you tried to hide it from the other scientists. Good thing I'm such a merciful leader. I will overlook what you did, be grateful."

Robert backs away from the Emperor. His eyes wide, "Sir, I...I--- I'm sorry. It is a terrible mixture. I.... I wanted to stop the testing with it."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "Hiding information from the government is not the way to do that. That is the best way for you to go missing."

Robert stares into the cold blue eyes of the Emperor. "Sir, I wanted to, but I did not think it was important enough for the government to dirty their hands."

The Emperor walks toward a set of test tubes. He slowly picks up a test tube filled with green liquid.
"When did you decide what the government does or doesn't?" The Emperor hands slowly squeezes the tube.

Robert starts getting goosebumps.
"Sir, I did not mean it that way....."

The Emperor turns back towards the lonely scientist. He is still holding the small test tube.
"This tube contains acid for the A.A.D. Doesn't it?"

"Yes, sir."

"It would a shame if it spilled on either of us. It would be entirely an accident of course, if it happened." The Emperor stares at Robert. The Emperor's face shows no emotion.

A chill ripples through Robert.
"Ye.... Yesss, sir."

The Emperor puts the tube back where it was.
"We have gotten a bit off topic. Why is this mixture so dangerous?"

Robert relaxes a little.
"During testing we had lost three assistants and one scientist. It had repeatedly been unstable to use. It has lasting affects on the people that work through it."

"What type of symptoms?" The Emperor sits in a chair.

Robert avoids the leaders gaze.
"Their hair changes color. They grow strange horns from their heads, and they mumble something about a "Unicrew"."

The Emperor head cocks, "Unicrew?"

"Yes, sir. It's very strange."

"What have you done with the bodies of the dead?"

"The dead, sir?"

"The three assistants and the scientist. You mentioned you lost them."

"Oh, you misunderstood me. They are alive. But, they are not the same. Would you like to see them sir?"

The Emperor stands, "Are they somewhere in the facility? I have a meeting with some of the Representatives of XKI in about half an hour."

"Yes, sir. Follow me." Robert walks out of the lab with the Emperor in tow.
The Emperor nods off his bodyguards.

Robert and the Emperor walk through the bunker for a few minutes taking a winding path through different corridors and labs.
Scientists would look up from time to time to watch the two of them walk by.

Robert came to a door and pulled out a black key card. He opened the door. He motioned the Emperor forward. What Robert failed to notice before, was the pistol in the Emperor's hand.

The Emperor flicked the gun at Robert and then towards the open door. Robert's eyes froze on the gun. Robert slipped into the doorway. The Emperor followed.

Very slowly, "Here they are sir." He pointed at a large pen. The pen was huge probably over two football fields wide and just as long.

In the pen stood two men with long rainbow color hair. They had one solid white horn coming out of their heads. They wore Army personnel uniforms. They were talking to each other. Nodding from now and then.

Robert watched as the Emperor's eyes narrowed. The Emperor turned towards Robert, "That is the oddest thing I've ever seen. Do you know what they are saying?"

"We have camera's and microphones throughout the containment pen. I will turn on the sound for you."

*Click as the sounds turn on.*

"Ew evah hgoune emit ot epacse dna pots eht srediar morf gnikcatta----" *Sound cut*

The Emperor rubs his head, "What are they saying? Is is any language we know?"

"No sir. They do keep mention something about an update though."

"Update? Update what?" At that moment the Emperor's phone starts to ring. He talks briefly. Then hangs up.

"I'm sorry I must be leaving. My meeting was pushed forward. Good day, Mr. Mixtures." He starts to leave and then stops.

"Who knows about this experiment?"

"Three other scientists, and me. A few assistants also."

"Round them all up. You will head a research team and test more of this mixture, "Gifted". Don't let me down."
The Emperor leaves.

Robert lets out a deep breath. He turns toward the pen. Both of the strange men stare back at him. Robert turns the sound back on.

One of the strange men point at Robert and say, "Unicrew."

The End.